Door to door mormons:an opportunity for compassion

MauiRob

MauiRob

Joined
Nov 15, 2000
Messages
3,708
Just had 2 men show up from the Mormon church. why am I telling you this?

I just wanted to share an interesting thing. This was the first time that they showed up that I felt empathy for them-standing out in front of a stranger's door trying to convey what they feel is vitally important info-yet knowing full well that the person inside the house is just trying like hell to get rid of them. I was able to put myself in their shoes, even though I'd never do what they're doing. They're just bozos on the bus like all of us (to shamelessly steal Munk's phrase).

It's gotta be tough. You can say what you want about the act of evangelical visitations, but still, it's gotta be tough.

So I told them the truth. I thanked them for coming by, and for the good thing they are trying to do for me, but I told them that my children are listening in the next room and I would prefer that they hear spiritual information from my wife and I, not from strangers from a faith that I know little about.

I guess it just felt nice to treat them like human beings and to be honest with them.

That's all. I'm not trying to pat myself on the back--I just wanted to share the experience with you guys.
 
About ten years ago I was visiting my good friend Tom. We were playing a game of one-on-one basketball in his driveway when two young Mormon missionaries came to the house. Now Tom had been raised Mormon, as had his wife; they were married in the church and later chose to leave the church for various personal reasons.

Anyway, when these two young men arrived, Tom didn't really want to talk with them, but he saw an opportunity and made them an offer. He said he'd invite them in to chat for an hour in exchange for an hour of their playing two-on-two basketball with us in his driveway. Tom figured they would either leave us alone or we'd get to play ball with someone who was under 30 and in shape for a change.

They hemmed and hawed, and finally accepted the offer. One week later they came over and we played ball. We old geezers actually managed to beat them, but when it was over we looked like the walking dead, and they were little worse for the wear. I wasn't around for their discussion, but unfortunately they did not return to play basketball again.
 
I like Mormons. I'm not sure what that means, I could say; I like people. But I've met some friends who were Mormon and they had some personality and character values in common I appreciated.

Jehovas's witnesses are much harder at the door because the boredom factor overides the kindness of finding a strange human much quicker than other groups.
Peta hasn't come to my door yet.

munk
 
A Mission is kind of like a Right of Passage for most Mormon Boys, I personally never went on one even though I am Mormon. Rob, Thanks for being nice to them. Those guys have guts!! :O I could never do what they do.....

Raghorn, great storie. :)

I never try to push my faith on anyone nor do I talk about it much. Always nice to hear good stories from others when they run into the missionaries. When ever someone from another faith comes along I listen to them and talk with them and politely let them know that I'm were I want to be.

Got a story for you, years ago when I lived at home and had farm animals, we had some Ducks, a goose and some chickens that liked to chase people on bikes, kids walking by and even the ocational car. LOL.. Well one day the Missionaries were walking by my house on the way to another church members house (I come from a town thats about 80% Mormon). As the two Elders walking along the road got near the back yard, the ducks desided to greet them. they walked over quacking and nibbling, as one duck grabbed a pant leg the goose desided to join in on the fun and started running over, flapping his wings so he got there faster. One duck had a good hold of the pant leg.... When the elders saw the goose they tried to get loose from the duck and they Ran down the street. My family and I were watching from the kitchen window, laughing out Butts off. It was the funniest thing I'd seen it weeks. Our Ducks, goose and Chickens chasing of the Missionary's which also belong to the same faith we do. LOL

Well, thats enough rambling for now,

Heber
 
You know, I had an experience with religious sorts coming to my door not long before I deployed. I can't for the life of me remember if they were Jehovah's Witnesses or what, but it was about nine in the morning, I had not long before gotten off of nightshift and had settled down to watch some t.v. with a beer and re-heated dinner. Then there came a knocking, so I answer, forgetting to put the beer down, and they gave me the strangest look for a few moments, then we had our conversation.

Them: "Good morning!"
Me: "Yeah."
T:"Little early to be drinking one of those don't you think"
M: "Uhh...what?"
T: "Drinking beer at nine in the morning?"
M:"Uh..oh yeah. Forgot about that. Uh, I just got off work."
T: "Uh huh. You know, we could help you with your problem."
M: "I don't have a problem."
T: "You know, denial is--"
M: "It's not denial, not if you really don't have a problem."
T: "Well, maybe if we talked to you about Jesus Christ that would help you see."
M:"Theres nothing to see. Is there? Do I have a problem? Aaagh!"

And then I closed the door and went back to my dinner. Just thought I'd share that little gem.
 
In Australia, there was a case here some years ago when mormans knocked at someones door, who invited them in and offered them some freshly baked cookies. The young men being young men were ravenous and finished off a whole batch of these freshly baked cookies. The cookies affected them strangely and they had to go to a local hospital where it was finally discovered that they were hash cookies, ie they included majurana in them. It made the press and caused many a joke here, particularly as it is well known that mormans wont even drink tea or coffee let alone partake in recreational drugs. The person who fed them the cookies was charged.
 
"Bozos on the bus " good one Munk .
I,m not a big fan of religions that overly promote themselves . It has the taint of something too insistent about it . An over zealous Zealot is never a pretty sight .
 
"The person who fed them the cookies was charged."
With what, Unlawful education of the young or a violation of "Don't feed the animals"?
 
I have a return greeting for the few LDS or JW peddlers, I calmly tell them that I am Jewish and we have the same God, mine just didn't have kids. I thank them and close the door, haven't had the same one return.

Dick
 
If someone knocks on my door it'd better be a friend, a customer or someone in need of help.
As soon as Jeehaws Witless mentioned the beer I'da shattered his jaw like glass. :mad:
 
I've never been rudely treated by any missionaries or witnesses who came to my door. In fact, my rottweiler would never even bark at the Jehovah's Witnesses, which made me wonder what he knew that I didn't.
eek13.gif


While I'm a huge proponent of treating all people with dignity and respect, there are some who would attempt to exploit that kindness or, worse, mistake it for weakness. When the Kirby vacuum salesman tried to keep me from shutting my door after I politely explained I was very busy and not interested I told him that he had 15 seconds to be off the property before I set the dog on him.
 
In fact, my rottweiler would never even bark at the Jehovah's Witnesses, which made me wonder what he knew that I didn't.>>>>>

That is disturbing. The dog sensed no threat- they were not human.
Maybe they'd attained a 'selfless' state. Maybe they smelled good.



munk
 
The one thing about the Mormon missionaries, and you may not have noticed this, but the same ones won't usually come back if you say you're not interested. Their philosophy is that there are so many people who haven't heard the word that are open to their message, that they don't have time to try and wear you down in the time remaining to them. Witnesses will come by forever it seems like.

You may get a new pair coming by, but not the same ones on the old route.

They are instructed not to eat or drink anything while a guest in the home, so those guys probably got in more trouble that the guy who gave them the cookies.

We were raised LDS, and my Dad would take great delight in kidding the hell out of them when they came by, asking them all sorts of clueless questions until they figured out he was pulling their leg.

Norm
 
That is disturbing. The dog sensed no threat- they were not human.
Maybe they'd attained a 'selfless' state. Maybe they smelled good.
Click to expand...

You're on a roll lately:D (Kaiser?)

Or maybe I'm just paying more attention.

Maybe they'd attained a 'selfless' state. Maybe they smelled good
Click to expand...
--that really got me--set me giggling like an idiot. That goes straight into my "classics" file:thumbup:
 
An alternate opinion.

Posts to this topic have all been very kind and compassionate to people who knock on your door uninvited and unwanted.

My view is somewhat different. I believe I have the right to my privacy. If I want someone at or in my home, I will invite them. I wouldn't go knock on another persons front door and force myself, my opinions, or a product I sell on them. I don't want it done to me.

Not every knock on the door is from a benevolent person. How do you know who you are opening the door for? In the detective business I dressed as a priest to obtain information I needed in certain situations. Worked every time. But, I usually had to bless the darn apartment when I left.

Ringing my doorbell and knocking on my door until I am compelled to get up from whatever I am doing is just plain rude and unaccepable and will be responded to in kind.
 
I'm a bit more blunt, kind but short.

I have had several Mormons, and Jehovah Witnesses come to the gate.
Mormons always men and Jehovah Witnesses always women. The always travel in pairs.

"HELLO! I'M NOT BUYING, I'M NOT SELLING, AND I HAVE BEEN SAVED. HAVE A NICE DAY!"

They usually smile, shake their head and walk away.
 
I don't disagree with you Steve. When I lived in CA I found your approach to be a very practical one. Now I live in a very small town. I know most of the people in it, and due to the public nature of my employment they pretty much all know who I am whether I know them or not.

I've never yet had any reason for concern about my safety or that of my family, but never the less I am always packing. I still subscribe to the "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet" school.
 
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