I do not really know any Mormons, nor had any experiences with them...but my parents had an experience with them, that I wish to relate...
Before I begin, I will say, that many on this thread today, probably have disagreed with me quite strenuously on other matters such as the Terri Shiavo case, and in the evolution/creation/ID debates...
That being said, I will still present my story of my parents encounter with some fine Mormons, and please, take my story for its face value, and not with any other baggage one might see attatched to me, for disagreements in the past, that I have had with other posters...
Almost 20 years ago is when this occurred...my dad was not feeling well, and had not been well for some time...my mom, was at the time in early state Alzheimers...we did not know this at the time...dad tho, sensed something was wrong with her...now he felt something was wrong with him...mom did not drive and so my dads sister took dad, and mom to the doctor...after some tests and whatever, dad was diagnosed with cancer...
My dads sister brought my parents home, and then she left...my parents were now left to ponder their future, and how dads treatment would affect their lives...it was a sobering and sad moment...they lived in one state, I lived in another...they had just gotten home from the doctors and were getting ready to call me, to let me know what had happened...
About that time, two young Mormon gentlement, in their evangelizing rounds stopped at mom and dads house and introducted themselves...mom, a life long Methodist, said, no thanks, we are Methodist, we dont intend to change to being Mormons, and she was ready for them to leave, distraught as she was...but these two fellas noticed something not right with my parents, and asked if they could help...so mom invited them in,and I suppose since they were the ones there at the time, mom just broke down crying and poured out her heart to these two young men...dad I guess was also crying...to be sure, this was a sad sight...
These two Mormon gentlemen, then proceeded to tell mom and dad, that they would help my parents until I arrived to help care for them...mom told these men she was going to call me, and she was sure, I would be arriving in a few days...these two fine Mormons, set about making life easier for my parents, until I got there...they checked in each day, several times a day with my parents...
They mowed my parents lawn...they watered the flowers....they watered the grass...they went to the store, they helped with some of the household chores, they did anything and everything they could to help mom and dad hold on until I got there...
Once I arrived, these two fine Mormon fellas just went on their way...now, they knew from the outset, witnessing to my parents about the Mormon faith, would not produce any results...mom told them so upfront, and I suspect they believed her..they could have gone on their way, going to other homes, preaching their faith, and could have just forgotten all about my mom and dad..
But the point of this long story, is that these two fine Mormons did not forget about my mom and dad...they took it upon themselves, without being asked, to be my parents special guardian angels, until I arrived...they had no hope of converting my parents, they surely sacrified their time helping these two elderly people, that they barely knew..yet they seemed to believe that helping my parents was something God called them to do, regardless of the sacrifice needed on their part, and so they did provide my parents with much needed help...
They did not seek to convert my parents, they did not seek to pass out any literature, they did not seek to tell my parents the history of the Mormon church..what they did seek out to do, was to help two scared, frightened, elderly people at a time in their lives, when they so very badly needed someone to help them over the hump, until I arrived to deal with the situation...
Isn’t it possible, that should Mitt Romney become President, that he could act as these two Mormon gentlemen who helped my parents?...had anyone not known that these two fellas were Mormons, they would have thought instead, here were just two fine fellas doing what was right for two old people who needed their help...they never brought their religious beliefs per se, into the mix...in other words, they ‘lived’ their religious beliefs, rather than just ‘talking’ about their religious beliefs...
Cant Mitt Romney do the same thing?....couldnt he live up to the expectations of being a fine president, not because he choses to bring his religious beliefs as a Mormon to the White House, but rather because his Mormon beliefs have made him the man that he is today?
Personally I think that Mitt Romney is completely capable of being a fine president, and that those who wont even discuss the possibility of Miss Romney being President, merely because he happens to be a Mormon, are doing him a great disservice...
Sorry for such a long post, but I just felt it was necessary to show where my thinking is coming from...
I agree with you. Mormon missionaries are trained to convert people with loving acts. If you don’t believe me watch the PBS documentary (second night).
I was taught as a young LDS girl to “always be a missionary.” In fact it is the calling of every single LDS individual. Mormons are castigated when their lack of righteous living leads someone astray (away from mormonism).
Here are some links from the official LDS website, to back my observations. http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=dfe9e2270ed6c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
A gospel-sharing (proselyting) home is one in which neighborhood children love to play, making it natural to invite them and their family to attend church, a family home evening, or some other activity. Teenagers visiting a gospel-sharing home feel comfortable asking questions or participating with the family in prayer.
A sister in France was asked about the secret of her success. She said, “I simply share my joy. I treat everyone as if they were already a member of the Church. If I’m standing by someone in line and strike up a conversation, I share with them how much I enjoyed my Church meetings on Sunday. When co-workers ask, ‘What did you do this weekend?’ I do not skip from Saturday night to Monday morning. I share with them that I went to church, what was said, and my experiences with the Saints. I talk about how I live, think, and feel.”
andyandmikesmom, Mormonism teaches that every member should use any oportunity and any means necessary to convert people. So do Christians. But don’t assume there was no ulterior motive in the actions of these young men. They are sent on Mission precisely to do what they did for your parents. This is one of their “methods of operation.” They were doing their job, and doing it very well.
One of the prime motivators might be that they will not achieve the Celestial glory (to live with the Father) without performing these works. Much of Mormonism is composed of perfect obedience to laws....one of which is missionary work.
Thanks for sharing.
There are good stories and bad stories out there. I’m glad your parents were the recipients of good and not bad. I know people that had bad experiences and even got letters saying they were no longer baptised because they wanted out. They were so distraught, I had a hard time reminding them that God knows their hearts and that the LDS church couldn’t take away their baptism. Oh, and why they left? Because they were dirt poor and couldn’t pay their tithing bills that kept coming in the mail. These elders had been to their home and could see what I saw. Broken steps, peeling paint and wallpaper. A few years later the house was condemned, that’s how bad it was, yet, they were sent tithing bills they couldn’t pay and they asked to leave because they couldn’t pay the tithes. For that, they got a letter saying they were unbaptised.
Mosiah 2:
16 Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God.
17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
18 Behold, ye have called me your king; and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?
19 And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!