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This subconsciously scripted world view implies that Mormons should be more righteous, happier, more in general, superior to non-Mormons. The paired assumptions, of course, are that gentiles are more decadent, less happy, less inclined to honesty and integrity, less successful and, in general, inferior to Mormons. On the one hand this suggests an arrogant ethnocentricity which fights against the friendly, outgoing missionary spirit. On the other hand, it sets some Mormons up for painful disillusionment. Our world view suggests that our way of life is God-inspired and thus constitutes in its purity the best of all possible worlds. Any good person of integrity and personal honesty, we like to tell ourselves, will convert to Mormonism once he sees how superior it is as a way of life.

This superiority stance applies strain on Mormons from two different angles. First, we tend to feel we must live our lives as an example of Mormon superiority. This tends to place an enormous burden on the shoulders of many Mormons. When these Mormons see nonmembers who are not impressed thilt their Mormon way of life is superior, they feel like failures.

"Mormons focus on accessible, social aspects of their religion. Although the Mormon system of doctrine is genuinely attractive to many of its members, many have argued that the primary "glue" of Mormonism is the heritage, culture, and family ties, not the doctrine and theology. In other words, the typical allegiance to the Mormon organization primarily stems from something other than doctrinal concerns. The average Mormon sitting in a pew does not care how or why their religion works, they only care that it works for them."
-- from the thread Atheoligical Tendency ~Open~

"It's not easy to learn a new culture, doctrine and terminology — just ask new converts to the LDS Church — one of whom was disappointed to learn that the fireside she'd been eagerly looking forward was not a bonfire. Or the one who showed up in tears at the office of Marleen Williams convinced that no Mormon man would want to marry her because she couldn't operate a hot glue gun....According to the study, members of the church can help new converts by being more open and by giving love and acceptance to them, especially as they struggle to learn LDS jargon and learn the difference between culture and doctrine."
-- from the thread LDS conversion is a process, study indicates

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