When asked what church you belong to, how do you respond?

[rongo]

Just now, Rain said:

Maybe the difference is that you are talking to a lot of high school kids and some of us are more likely to talk to adults.  I know a lot of adults who would never dream of asking what religion I am because spiritual and religious beliefs are too "personal".  

I talk to a lot of adults, too.  

But, yes, teaching school makes gospel conversations (not pushed on people) like shooting fish in a barrel. They happen naturally, with no effort or planning. 

[CA Steve]

1 hour ago, rongo said:

I've been most disappointed in Q&As that aren't tightly controlled (there was one in Phoenix with Elder Ballard and Rasband a few years ago). There is a reason that the "Face to Face" things are very tightly scripted and controlled. 

Would you mind expanding on what you didn't like and why you think they are tightly scripted?

[rongo]

6 minutes ago, CA Steve said:

Would you mind expanding on what you didn't like and why you think they are tightly scripted?

One example: Elder Ballard was asked a sincere question about Joseph Smith's polygamy, and he reacted annoyed (like President Biden's "C'mon, man!"). His sole answer was Look, Hyrum Smith is my ancestor. Do you think I would be standing here if he wasn't a prophet? A lot of this is misinformation (he didn't deny Joseph Smith polygamy, but it was clear that he wasn't equipped to discuss it. He didn't appear to know enough about it to understand the particulars of the concern, and to be able to discuss details). 

Elder Perry with his briefcase at the "Swedish Rescue" (which only ended up covering the first couple of questions before they ended the fireside and went home). There is probably not a more terrifying thought to someone whose faith is on the ropes than, "This man doesn't know anything about this." It seems to me that the Brethren are more than content to outsource the essays, for example, to the likes of Paul Reeve, Brian Hales, John Gee and Brian Hauglid (Hauglid may end up biting them in the rear), etc. and then simply endorsing them. 

As for tightly scripted, have you ever watched a "Face to Face" or a "night with an apostle and his wife?" Both in terms of the questions that are fielded (out of all that were submitted) and the answers, they are tightly scripted. 

[CV75]

6 hours ago, Fair Dinkum said:

In another thread Scott Lloyd and I got into a pedantic discussion over the use of the I'm a Mormon terminology when referencing oneself and my assertion of its use being a victory for Satan.  This discussion caused me to wonder at the great power and influence President Nelson's had to enact such a seismic change in LDS vernacular with seemingly one simple request where in he made the use of the term Mormon, when referring to ones self, a hiss and a by word.

Not only have I personally been corrected when calling myself a Mormon, I've actually had members of the church get rather agitated when I've done so.  I still prefer using the descriptor Mormon when referring to myself, since the official name of the church is cumbersome and rather long, I prefer the nickname.

So I am curious to know how members of this august board refer to themselves when asked what church you belong to and I would also like to know if you have stopped referring to yourself as a Mormon Why have you done so?

For those that refer to themselves as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do you take a deep breath after doing so and do you share it in a normal conversational cadence enunciating each and every word or do you speed through the name and plow through it due to its length in a sing song manner?

As long as I can remember (adult convert, 1975), I used the full name of the Church and explained "Mormon" since that was/is the commonly recognized. Of course this was always in the context of a larger conversation. The vast majority of my community and social circle were/are not well acquainted with the Church.

I have never seen members of the Church get agitated when others use "Mormon" instead, so I'm interested in the broader context in which you use it (why, how, the circumstances, etc.).

I'm not sure why you would find it a difficult phrase to use. or be particularly subject to sing-song.

[MustardSeed]

I’m most comfortable with the title LDS but because I appreciate the president’s intentions I comply by saying I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as Mormons.  Then I smoke.

Haha funny auto correct- I meant to type “Then I smile.”  I think I won’t fix it, just for funzies... 

Incidentally I do get asked fairly often.  I’m in the company of drinkers quite often and people get curious. 

[jkwilliams]

Only when I lived in Utah did people ask me my religion. When I was growing up, a lot of kids assumed I was Jewish. But I haven’t been asked about my religious beliefs in years. 

[Hamba Tuhan]

I have always identified myself as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On very rare occasions, I have shortened the name to 'The Church of Jesus Christ' and left it there.

ETA: The name of the Church in Indonesian is Gereja Yesus Kristus dari Orang-Orang Suci Zaman Akhir. Literally translated, it means The Church of Jesus Christ of Holy People of the Final Epoch.

That gets people's attention!

Edited April 21, 2021 by Hamba Tuhan

[california boy]

Funny, I get asked if I am Mormon pretty regularly.  There are just certain things that people know Mormons do.  For example when I tell them I don't want a glass of wine or beer.  Sometimes when I mention how many children I have they ask if I am Mormon or Catholic. One of the funniest times was my first Thanksgiving after coming out to my family.  I had no place to go for Thanksgiving.  None of my family wanted me at their Thanksgiving dinner.  This gay couple asked if I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with them and their friends.  I will always be grateful for the kindness they showed me.  One of them had a son who was a chef at Hotel W.  He fixed an amazing Thanksgiving dinner.  I mean over the top.  Afterwards, one of the other guests asked what I thought of the meal.  I told them it was amazing, but where was the Jello.  She whipped her head around and asked "Are you Mormon?"   Yeah, I guess only a Mormon would ask where the Jello was at a Thanksgiving feast. Turned out, she was a former member of the Church as well.  

[The Nehor]

1 hour ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

I have always identified myself as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On very rare occasions, I have shortened the name to 'The Church of Jesus Christ' and left it there.

ETA: The name of the Church in Indonesian is Gereja Yesus Kristus dari Orang-orang Suci Zaman Akhir. Literally translated, it means The Church of Jesus Christ of Holy People of the Final Epoch.

That gets people's attention!

We need a revelation to fix our name to that version instead STAT!

[Hamba Tuhan]

15 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

We need a revelation to fix our name to that version instead STAT!

Well, if you read Ajaran dan Perjanjian 115:4, we already do!

Quote

Karena demikianlah gereja-Ku akan dinamakan pada zaman terakhir, bahkan Gereja Yesus Kristus dari Orang-Orang Suci Zaman Akhir.

[JustAnAustralian]

If someone asks what church I go to I'll say "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". If they've never heard of it I'll say something along the lines of "you might know us as the Mormons". Though over here even that can leave people baffled, in which case I'll say "the church near <location they'll know>".

[MustardSeed]

1 hour ago, california boy said:

Funny, I get asked if I am Mormon pretty regularly.  There are just certain things that people know Mormons do.  For example when I tell them I don't want a glass of wine or beer.  Sometimes when I mention how many children I have they ask if I am Mormon or Catholic. One of the funniest times was my first Thanksgiving after coming out to my family.  I had no place to go for Thanksgiving.  None of my family wanted me at their Thanksgiving dinner.  This gay couple asked if I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with them and their friends.  I will always be grateful for the kindness they showed me.  One of them had a son who was a chef at Hotel W.  He fixed an amazing Thanksgiving dinner.  I mean over the top.  Afterwards, one of the other guests asked what I thought of the meal.  I told them it was amazing, but where was the Jello.  She whipped her head around and asked "Are you Mormon?"   Yeah, I guess only a Mormon would ask where the Jello was at a Thanksgiving feast. Turned out, she was a former member of the Church as well.  

What a great story! Sad of course In some ways, and also very identifiable. You can take the boy out of the country…

Edited April 21, 2021 by MustardSeed

[AtlanticMike]

This is how I respond😁

 

[JAHS]

2 hours ago, california boy said:

Funny, I get asked if I am Mormon pretty regularly.  There are just certain things that people know Mormons do.  For example when I tell them I don't want a glass of wine or beer.  Sometimes when I mention how many children I have they ask if I am Mormon or Catholic. One of the funniest times was my first Thanksgiving after coming out to my family.  I had no place to go for Thanksgiving.  None of my family wanted me at their Thanksgiving dinner.  This gay couple asked if I wanted to spend Thanksgiving with them and their friends.  I will always be grateful for the kindness they showed me.  One of them had a son who was a chef at Hotel W.  He fixed an amazing Thanksgiving dinner.  I mean over the top.  Afterwards, one of the other guests asked what I thought of the meal.  I told them it was amazing, but where was the Jello.  She whipped her head around and asked "Are you Mormon?"   Yeah, I guess only a Mormon would ask where the Jello was at a Thanksgiving feast. Turned out, she was a former member of the Church as well.  

I live in California now and when I tell people I was raised in Utah that's when they ask me if I am a Mormon.

[Scott Lloyd]

14 hours ago, Fair Dinkum said:

In another thread Scott Lloyd and I got into a pedantic discussion over the use of the I'm a Mormon terminology when referencing oneself and my assertion of its use being a victory for Satan.  This discussion caused me to wonder at the great power and influence President Nelson's had to enact such a seismic change in LDS vernacular with seemingly one simple request where in he made the use of the term Mormon, when referring to ones self, a hiss and a by word.

Not only have I personally been corrected when calling myself a Mormon, I've actually had members of the church get rather agitated when I've done so.  I still prefer using the descriptor Mormon when referring to myself, since the official name of the church is cumbersome and rather long, I prefer the nickname.

So I am curious to know how members of this august board refer to themselves when asked what church you belong to and I would also like to know if you have stopped referring to yourself as a Mormon Why have you done so?

For those that refer to themselves as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do you take a deep breath after doing so and do you share it in a normal conversational cadence enunciating each and every word or do you speed through the name and plow through it due to its length in a sing song manner?

Like Bluebell, I don’t recall having had that question put to me in a long, long time. But if I did, my response would be to give the full and formal name of the Church, in keeping with what President Nelson has taught. 
 

If the question were “Are you a Mormon?” my response would be “Yes,” followed by “I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Without trying to be belligerent or to virtue signal in any way, I would try to find a way to work the full and formal name of the Church into the conversation. And I would avoid the use of any nickname or initialism (LDS) in reference to the Church, though I would not upbraid the other party in the conversation for doing so. 
 

But in terms of pedantry, I wonder which is the most pedantic: making a choice to unostentatiously use the proper name of the Church in one’s own conversation or fussing about it when someone else does so. 

Edited April 21, 2021 by Scott Lloyd

[Scott Lloyd]

10 hours ago, rongo said:

One example: Elder Ballard was asked a sincere question about Joseph Smith's polygamy, and he reacted annoyed (like President Biden's "C'mon, man!"). His sole answer was Look, Hyrum Smith is my ancestor. Do you think I would be standing here if he wasn't a prophet? A lot of this is misinformation (he didn't deny Joseph Smith polygamy, but it was clear that he wasn't equipped to discuss it. He didn't appear to know enough about it to understand the particulars of the concern, and to be able to discuss details). 

Elder Perry with his briefcase at the "Swedish Rescue" (which only ended up covering the first couple of questions before they ended the fireside and went home). There is probably not a more terrifying thought to someone whose faith is on the ropes than, "This man doesn't know anything about this." It seems to me that the Brethren are more than content to outsource the essays, for example, to the likes of Paul Reeve, Brian Hales, John Gee and Brian Hauglid (Hauglid may end up biting them in the rear), etc. and then simply endorsing them. 

As for tightly scripted, have you ever watched a "Face to Face" or a "night with an apostle and his wife?" Both in terms of the questions that are fielded (out of all that were submitted) and the answers, they are tightly scripted. 

I’m pretty sure Elder Perry was not at the “Swedish rescue.” I think you need to check your facts. 
 

From a transcript I’ve seen of an apparently unauthorized recording, it involved Elder Marlin K. Jensen and Richard E. Turley Jr., and, to me, neither came across as you characterize “Elder Perry” as doing. 

Edited April 21, 2021 by Scott Lloyd

[AtlanticMike]

4 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Like Bluebell, I don’t recall having had that question put to me in a long, long time

Maybe it's a Utah thing, don't you and Bluebell live in Utah? Maybe most people in Utah just assume your Mormon/ a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  Out here where only 1percent are Mormon, I get asked all the time. But it has lessened, I think because all this "wokeness" people are afraid you'll get offended if they point out or question something they see. 

[rongo]

7 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I’m pretty sure Elder Perry was not at the “Swedish rescue.” I think you need to check your facts. 

From a transcript I’ve seen of an apparently unauthorized recording, it involved Elder Marlin K. Jensen and Richard E. Turley Jr., and, to me, neither came across as you characterize “Elder Perry” as doing. 

Mattson wouldn't identify the apostle who accompanied Elder Jensen and Richard Turley, but it was Elder Perry.

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/us/some-mormons-search-the-web-and-find-doubt.html

"Elder Perry, now 91, confirmed through a church spokesman that he did visit a branch in Sweden with skeptical members, but said he recalled satisfying their questions with a letter written by the church’s history department."

The transcript you're referring to shows that the reaction of those present differs from Elder Perry's (through a spokesman) as far as the efficacy of what he had brought in his briefcase (I assume it was texts of some early Gospel Topics Essays). They don't even get brought up, and the meeting was abruptly ended after only about an hour and a half. I recall most of the talking was done by Turley. 

[Fair Dinkum]

13 hours ago, JustAnAustralian said:

If someone asks what church I go to I'll say "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". If they've never heard of it I'll say something along the lines of "you might know us as the Mormons". Though over here even that can leave people baffled, in which case I'll say "the church near <location they'll know>".

The Church in Australia used to have a somewhat more positive image, it seems at least to me, that a lot of recent negative media has diminished and tarnished  our image in Oz quite a bit. Aussies are non religious and secular and often find religious folks a bit strange.  I've found that most have never heard of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints but mention Mormon and yes they think its a very fringe religion with American ties and those American boys going door to door although we now have lot more Aussies doing the door knocking.

I was at a social function a few years back in Australia, my living in the states come up and he asked me where in the states I lived.  When I said Utah, he got this quirky look on his face and asked if I was a Mormon, to which I said yes, he said oh, then excused himself and walked away.  Very strange

Edited April 21, 2021 by Fair Dinkum

[rongo]

Interesting that this topic has been discussed lately. Two anecdotes from yesterday in my family:

1) My son (the junior, not the freshman I referred to earlier) was talking with another LDS classmate before class started in theater class about the new temples that were announced. A girl fairly new to the school overheard them and said, "Wait --- are you both Mormons?" They said yes, and to their surprise, she said, "I was just baptized a few months ago." She had just given a talk, and showed them her talk (about agency) on her phone. 

2) My wife is long-term substituting all of 4th quarter for sports medicine and PE for a lady out on maternity leave. When a slew of students asked to use the restroom at the same time, she said in passing to two LDS students, "We need to do the Primary thing and take everyone to the bathroom at once and get it over with." A girl heard that and asked what Primary was, and one of the girls said, "We're Mormons (the church next door), and it's the Sunday School class for little kids. They take the kids to the restroom to get it over with." 

Our school is about a third LDS (out of 2000 students), with two full-time CES seminary teachers in "the church next door," so students have quite a bit of incidental and constant exposure to mentions and conversations about the Church. "Mormon" is usually the name that is mentioned, and when interest and curiosity is aroused, there is also plenty of exposure to the full name of the Church (especially if they begin being taught by the missionaries). 

I've been a teacher for twenty years, and I do unskilled day labor construction during the summer, so I know I have more natural opportunities for conversations about the Church than many (I stand out like a sore thumb with the construction, because I'm clean-cut, don't swear, and don't smoke or drink. People can tell, and they ask). I am a little surprised that most people report not being asked about being a Mormon in a long time, even in Utah (more and more non-Mormons are moving to Utah all the time). 

Again, I think if people were talking and being asked questions by non-members all the time, they would feel differently about insisting on only ever using the full name of the Church. It's really a barrier to clear, natural conversation, and I don't find in my experience that people come away thinking we don't believe in Christ. Just the opposite ---- most people assume we are extreme Christians. My boss at a store in Chicago during high school even said, "Oh, you're a Bible-thumper" when he learned I am a Mormon. 

[rongo]

15 hours ago, california boy said:

One of the funniest times was my first Thanksgiving after coming out to my family.  I had no place to go for Thanksgiving.  None of my family wanted me at their Thanksgiving dinner.  

That's really sad and disappointing. My views on homosexuality are well known, but I can't imagine any of my children not being welcome for Thanksgiving or family gatherings if they were gay. They will always be my children, no matter what. 

Things have gotten better over the years, haven't they?

15 hours ago, california boy said:

I told them it was amazing, but where was the Jello.  She whipped her head around and asked "Are you Mormon?"   Yeah, I guess only a Mormon would ask where the Jello was at a Thanksgiving feast. Turned out, she was a former member of the Church as well.  

One of our standbys is my wife's killer 7-layer Jello (alternating layers have evaporated milk, so they don't only alternate colors, they also alternate transparent and opaque. It takes a long time to do the layers the night before, because they have to set before you can do the next one, and you have to pour onto a spoon so you don't erode away the layers). This is a must for the picky kids in the extended family. 

I detest grated carrots or pineapple in Jello, though. 

Edited April 21, 2021 by rongo

[california boy]

13 hours ago, JAHS said:

I live in California now and when I tell people I was raised in Utah that's when they ask me if I am a Mormon.

When I tell people I graduated from BYU, I also get that question.  Maybe you have to live some place outside of Utah, but where the Church has some presence.  I never get asked when I am in Europe where the Church is less well known.

[bluebell]

5 hours ago, AtlanticMike said:

Maybe it's a Utah thing, don't you and Bluebell live in Utah? Maybe most people in Utah just assume your Mormon/ a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  Out here where only 1percent are Mormon, I get asked all the time. But it has lessened, I think because all this "wokeness" people are afraid you'll get offended if they point out or question something they see. 

We've been in Utah for the last 7 years.  Before that we lived in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana.  

I think for me it's mostly because I don't work outside the home and all my hobbies and extracurricular activities are spent with either family or close friends so I'm never really around people who already know me. 

I've got plenty of neighbors that aren't members (we live next to Hill Air Force base so we have a lot of people in the area who come here to work on the base) but the one's I live closest to already assume I'm a member by default.  It's never a question that is asked.

[bluebell]

21 minutes ago, rongo said:

One of our standbys is my wife's killer 7-layer Jello (alternating layers have evaporated milk, so they don't only alternate colors, they also alternate transparent and opaque. It takes a long time to do the layers the night before, because they have to set before you can do the next one, and you have to pour onto a spoon so you don't erode away the layers). This is a must for the picky kids in the extended family. 

Sounds like we have the same recipe.  My dad and I make 7 layer jello every Christmas eve.  It's tradition.   It pretty much takes all day but it's so good!

[rongo]

6 minutes ago, california boy said:

When I tell people I graduated from BYU, I also get that question.  Maybe you have to live some place outside of Utah, but where the Church has some presence.  I never get asked when I am in Europe where the Church is less well known.

It's probably a lot easier in the West, with some familiarity, and I would imagine probably doesn't come up as often on the East Coast. Unless Utah is mentioned. 

In Germany in the mid 90s, many older people's impression of Mormons still was 1) the Osmonds, and 2) Westerns. These weren't negative connotations --- sometimes they were frankly curious about "Vielweiberei" (polygamy), but not overtly hostile about it. Most often, Germans were simply not religiously inclined at all, but as curious, thoughtful, traveling cosmopolitans, were curious. I had many conversations that didn't turn into formal teaching experiences on my mission. 

Right after I graduated from college, I rented motorhomes in Salt Lake. 80% of our business came through German, Swiss, and Austrian travel agencies (that's why I was hired), and **that** was like shooting fish in a barrel. They rented in Salt Lake to visit Yellowstone and the Utah national parks, but they **always** went to Temple Square, and many asked for other recommendations in the area for a day or two (they also really wanted to see the Kennecott copper mine, and I always thought, Why?). 

I was asked so frequently for information about the Mormons that I stocked up on copies of the Book of Mormon, Truth Restored, and Joseph Smith's testimony in German, Dutch, and French (mostly German). Truth Restored ("Die Warheit Wiederhergestellt") was the best one, because they wanted a concise primer on the history of the Mormons. 

That was where I also told an especially eclectic man I could tell had a sense of humor and wouldn't take it the wrong way (he had asked if we still practice polygamy), "Das mussten wir aufgeben, nachdem wir in der Bibel gelesen haben dass kein Mann zwei Meister dienen kann" (We had to give it up after we read in the Bible that no man can serve two masters). He laughed really hard at that, and I explained that we had stopped it in the late 19th/early 20th century.