The Truth Hurts.
I wandered around Salt Lake City's "Temple Square" for about an hour while my friend got married inside the Temple, into which I, as a non-Mormon, was not allowed.
"Hello! Welcome to Temple Square," the attractive pair of South American girls said, simultaneously. They were 'sister missionaries', serving their 'mission' in the US as tour guides in and around the Temple complex.
I guess my aimless shuffle and the iPod nubs sticking in my ears identified me as a non-Mormon. They asked me where I was from, et cetera, and asked me what I thought of their Temple.
"It's big. Good stone-work." It was ok. Rather plain.
They asked me how long I had known about Mormonism. I remembered the commercials when I was a kid, where junior is rude to dad, and then they join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and everything is fixed, due to their belief in a guy finding some golden plates in a forest.
They asked me what I thought of "the Church", i.e. Mormonism. I laughed a little, and told them I didn't want to be the rude guy. They persisted.
"Well, honestly, I think it's a false religion." They looked absolutely shocked. I expected that they would be used to that comment, but they honestly looked hurt. I tried to recoup, "I mean, everyone I've met here is really nice, and my closest friend is Mormon, you have a really nice culture."
They looked a little confused. "That tells you something, though, right? Christ said that you shall know a tree by its fruits. My life is very blessed, I have so many friends and my family is strong and happy, and it's on the strength of this testimony that I bear witness to the truth of the Gospel."
I was deeply jealous of the sense of community they all seemed to share. They seemed like genuinely happy people, close families and happy marriages, good friends and a supportive extended social network.
My rebuttal, in my head, was fierce: "Most of my friends think I am a little on the scary side. They worry about my unhealthy obsessions. My family goes to church but few are very serious and several have fallen away completely. I have lost several beautiful girlfriends because of my insistence on non-compromise as far as religion goes. The people in my church are for the most part intellectually lazy and morally loose, and they are nearly all unfriendly and cold. Where their personal prayer-life exists at all, it is often only a few notches above rank superstition. The history of my religion's hierarchy is largely one of utter depravity and powermongering. If I hear about my Church in the media, it is sure to be an embarrassing and enraging story of abuse and negligence. I go to church alone, and I leave church alone. I suffer all this because I've taken great pains to research every religion on the planet, including yours, and I've decided that the teaching of the Catholic Church is true. I didn't get any new friends when I made this decision, no one greeted me at the door, I didn't magically become a better person, and my family is just as screwed as it has always been. So don't talk to me about strength of personal testimony."
My actual response was more tempered: "Well, 'nice' is nice, but it's not exactly the same thing as 'true', is it?"
They smiled wanly and offered me a Book of Mormon.
I declined.
"Hello! Welcome to Temple Square," the attractive pair of South American girls said, simultaneously. They were 'sister missionaries', serving their 'mission' in the US as tour guides in and around the Temple complex.
I guess my aimless shuffle and the iPod nubs sticking in my ears identified me as a non-Mormon. They asked me where I was from, et cetera, and asked me what I thought of their Temple.
"It's big. Good stone-work." It was ok. Rather plain.
They asked me how long I had known about Mormonism. I remembered the commercials when I was a kid, where junior is rude to dad, and then they join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and everything is fixed, due to their belief in a guy finding some golden plates in a forest.
They asked me what I thought of "the Church", i.e. Mormonism. I laughed a little, and told them I didn't want to be the rude guy. They persisted.
"Well, honestly, I think it's a false religion." They looked absolutely shocked. I expected that they would be used to that comment, but they honestly looked hurt. I tried to recoup, "I mean, everyone I've met here is really nice, and my closest friend is Mormon, you have a really nice culture."
They looked a little confused. "That tells you something, though, right? Christ said that you shall know a tree by its fruits. My life is very blessed, I have so many friends and my family is strong and happy, and it's on the strength of this testimony that I bear witness to the truth of the Gospel."
I was deeply jealous of the sense of community they all seemed to share. They seemed like genuinely happy people, close families and happy marriages, good friends and a supportive extended social network.
My rebuttal, in my head, was fierce: "Most of my friends think I am a little on the scary side. They worry about my unhealthy obsessions. My family goes to church but few are very serious and several have fallen away completely. I have lost several beautiful girlfriends because of my insistence on non-compromise as far as religion goes. The people in my church are for the most part intellectually lazy and morally loose, and they are nearly all unfriendly and cold. Where their personal prayer-life exists at all, it is often only a few notches above rank superstition. The history of my religion's hierarchy is largely one of utter depravity and powermongering. If I hear about my Church in the media, it is sure to be an embarrassing and enraging story of abuse and negligence. I go to church alone, and I leave church alone. I suffer all this because I've taken great pains to research every religion on the planet, including yours, and I've decided that the teaching of the Catholic Church is true. I didn't get any new friends when I made this decision, no one greeted me at the door, I didn't magically become a better person, and my family is just as screwed as it has always been. So don't talk to me about strength of personal testimony."
My actual response was more tempered: "Well, 'nice' is nice, but it's not exactly the same thing as 'true', is it?"
They smiled wanly and offered me a Book of Mormon.
I declined.
posted by Ben at 10:03 AM
16 Comments:
Whatever, it is not a false religion; I mean Joseph Smith wore the special glasses to translate the text. I bet you don't have a pair of special Mormon glasses.
That's so true. I had forgotten about those glasses! My ancient apostolic faith is shattered!
Rosary Beads vs. Magic Glasses?
Glasses, everytime.
Hah, what about a scapula? I mean I think for sure those beat magic glasses. Or holy water, I know Mormons get more than one wife, but I bet they don't get to dip their hand in holy water.
I will contradict myself and vote for the Catholics on this round.
I wear a scapular every day, and not ONCE have I gone to Hell yet. There's the proof of its effectiveness right there.
And it's always good to vote Catholic, seeing as how we will one day be the Vice-Honchos in Heaven. You might want to start currying favor with us now.
Oh right, it is called a "scapular," but my grandma called it a "scapula." I think that is the Latin base word.
And I too believe in "one Catholic and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins: and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come, Amen."
Oh and I meant to say that you too are an extremely eloquent and talented writer. I might even call your work clever and thought-provoking.
Holy Cow, this is the best comment I've yet gotten...
Please, do not cease to praise me.
You know, if the fruits thing were true, then even Jesus' life didn't have good fruits -- I mean, he was the most perfect person on earth and he was crucified!!!
Saying you've got a good life b/c you're LDS is totally prideful I think.
You should become a Lutheran, and then you can even feel self-righteous about indulgences and the crusades.
i actually remember that commercial. made your post infinitely more interesting. much more interesting than these retarded comments about glasses vs scapula(r)s
"Kolob", by the way, is the name of the star that God's planet circles.
Mormon doctrine. Good stuff.
Correction:
"Please note that Kolob is the nearest planet to the residence of God, not the residence itself."
"Hello! Welcome to Temple Square," the attractive pair of South American girls said, simultaneously."
Damn,those are the types we can't afford to lose!
Just wanted to say that I love the strength of conviction in these words,
"I suffer all this because I've taken great pains to research every religion on the planet, including yours, and I've decided that the teaching of the Catholic Church is true".
Pax Christi Domini
I have to agree that your story on "mormon to catholic" blog was so eloquently written and actually?...very Christ-like. Thanks.
I was linked to this post from the mormon2catholic blog.
I just wanted to say, as an ex-Mormon Anglo-Catholic, this is one of the best things I have read. Thank you for voicing what I've been thinking/feeling everytime I have encountered Mormons who just don't understand why I converted to Christianity.
Thanks :)
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