LDS Missionaries

[QuoVadisNation]

I've never dealt with Mormons. But my house is occasionally plagued by Jehova's witnesses every summer. This one couple likes to knock on houses in the afternoon asking residents if they've accepted 'da larwd' yet.

I'm usually the one who has to talk to them. I usually come right out and say I've already affiliated with a particular religion. And then I add that I'm really quite content with it (even though that's a lie. heh ). MjM,you should have just been honest. That way they'll write you on their little book of forever condemned souls and leave you alone. : D

Otherwise, they'll think you're being inclined to convert.

 

[Stylesrj]

I got an idea. When they come over to talk, sit in a chair and play some loud music, like have a guitar or some kind of musical instrument and when they talk for a bit, start playing it.
Doesn't an orchestra do the same thing in speeches when someone talks for too long?

LDS: Hello, we'd like to tell you about our
-play guitar, does not matter how skilled you are at it, but make sure it's loud-
LDS: Gah! -walks away-

Or just have a radio and when they come up to the door to talk, play loud, heavy metal music and hope they go away... then you can switch it off when they're gone

 

[Shadylookin]

Usually I don't open the door for them, whether or not they can tell if I'm home is inconsequential. If my parents are home they'll just tell them to leave which is probably the nicest things we have to say.

If there is a loving god I'm sure the deepest pit of hell is reserved for people that think i want their religion.

 

[White Elk]

I have always found LDS missionaries to be extremely polite and respectfull of peoples wishes. I rarely see them anymore though. When I was a young teen I called the church and requested their missionary teachings. I was exploring a variety of differant religions at the time. After completing the many lessons I decided to go to a service but was embarrased by my lack of sunday clothes. My family was somewhat poor at the time. The missionaries told me it would be fine to attend church in T-Shirt, sneakers, and bluejeans (I did have slighlty better than that lol). But they hooked me up with shirt, slacks, jacket, tie and shoes anyway. I thought that was very cool of them, and I was impressed by the Churchs network of goodwill.

Everytime I've seen the missionaries I have been impressed by them. I have never seen them be pushy or rude. As I grew older, seeing young people who were so polite, intelligent and community minded really helped to uplift my spirit. My confidence in youth was often restored by them.

A few years ago my Father and I moved his Mother across states. Mid-day on a hot Boise summer we were unloading the U-haul and two LDS missionaries rode up on their bicycles. They saw we could use help and despite the heat and their fine clothes, they offered to help. We graciously declined but then chatted with them for a few minutes. My Grandmother came out and joined the discussion. We chatted for a few minutes more and then parted ways. Not Once during that entire converstation did they bring up anything having to do with religion. It was simply a pleasent and friendly conversation with members of the community. We returned to work invigorated.

 

[Jawz II]

I freaking hate those guys.

I thought you were a mormon missionary?

Anyways, it's not rude to ask someone to leave, I think after some stranger knocks on your door, when you didn't ask or want them to, politely saying no thanks and getting back to your life, as in going in and closing the door, isn't rude at all.

That's the best they (Jehovas witnesses, jehova mustve done something really bad to need that many witnesses) get out of me. Sometimes I tell them I dont belive in ghosts, spirits, angels and goblins and santa and fire off an evil grin and wait for them to leave.

I remember this one salesman about a year ago.

I almost punched him out, that dude was a rude goddamn idiot, I guess he will never know how close he came to having his ass kicked.

Or maybe he did, cause he didn't think his original plan (foot in the door to prevent it being closed) was such a hot idea after I gave him the look and moved toward him.

Some people, thinking back I kind of regret not having at least given him a good shove.

I did shove this old crazy drunk guy once a few years back, dude knocks on my door and wants to know if I sabotaged his name on his door or something.
I'm like:

Why the Frag would I do that? no it wasn't me, but that answer wasn't good enough for him and he grabbed the door, so I Pushed him back and told him to go away.

Some people...

 

[Bugfatty300]

I remember this one salesman about a year ago.

I almost punched him out, that dude was a rude goddamn idiot, I guess he will never know how close he came to having his ass kicked.

Or maybe he did, cause he didn't think his original plan (foot in the door to prevent it being closed) was such a hot idea after I gave him the look and moved toward him.

Some people, thinking back I kind of regret not having at least given him a good shove.

I did shove this old crazy drunk guy once a few years back, dude knocks on my door and wants to know if I sabotaged his name on his door or something.
I'm like:

Why the Frag would I do that? no it wasn't me, but that answer wasn't good enough for him and he grabbed the door, so I Pushed him back and told him to go away.

Jeez. Anyone who'd try that at my house would have a gun pointed at his chest the second he put his foot in my house then if he still wanted to come in and visit...

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

You should have said, "why good sirs do you want to save my eternal soul if I myself don't give a damn about such ideas? You only show me that you have absolutely no respect for me as an individual person with personal autonomy regarding how I choose to live my life so long as it doesn't negatively affect others, in which others might be allowed respectable concern about my actions and choices. Remember, Freedom! Do you really hate freedom? Ok, thanks and have a nice day."

Which would really bother us, if we didn't also respect your freedom and were actually forcing anything on you in any way.

 

[White Elk]

Oh something I wanted to say about LDS missionaries... I was twelve when I asked for their teachings. I had recently moved to Tacoma WA which was a big culture shock to me. I was attempting to meet new friends but this came slowly. Without expressing this need for social activity, the missionaries invited me to play basketball with them, watch videos etc. They invited me to share their limited recreation time and arranged the transportation so I could.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I'm usually the one who has to talk to them. I usually come right out and say I've already affiliated with a particular religion. And then I add that I'm really quite content with it (even though that's a lie. heh ). MjM,you should have just been honest. That way they'll write you on their little book of forever condemned souls and leave you alone.

That's not really the case, with us. We know that you either belong to another religion or are not religious, that is the whole point. And we don't condemn anyone, nor do we make any permanent note of who said what.

 

[Kal'thzar]

Whats wrong with telling them "no".

You people have been conditioned too much. When its late and you want to go to sleep and some people are round do you

A. Tell them to go away, your going to sleep
B. Make hints that your sleepy, then get irritated when they don't get it.

I've only once had some one come round to my door once, I said I didn't mind listening to them; so I did, gave me some leaflets; which I read (amusing stuff really ). Then I talked to them about some school kids I was friends with that went to their church (only one in town, so I assume that they knew each other); this earned me a semi-evil eye a few days later when I was told so and so had spoken to my friend...notsure what resulted however.


If your irritated why don't you go door to door talking about atheism? Bring cookies.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Hey, we don't even mind being told "no", it happens a lot. Tracting is a high-volume, low-yield method. But I suggest that no matter what, you should be polite, for your sake as much as ours.

 

[Jawz II]

Jeez. Anyone who'd try that at my house would have a gun pointed at his chest the second he put his foot in my house then if he still wanted to come in and visit...

No need, there's no out of shape middle aged salesman on gods green earth I can't handle by myself, if push came to shove. This dude left before it came to that, but he did give me a pissed look, which is what bugged me, like I owe this yahoo who came out of no where to bother me something.

Like I owe it to him to give him 5-10 minutes of my time, since he decided he would bother me. That's what pissed me off and made me wish I had gotten physical with him.


I could probably whoop a bunch of them.
Makes me wonder how many pensioners I could take on?

 

[Chunes]

I never open the door for them, or if I do, I tell them to leave immediately.

I have no tolerance for missionaries of any kind. They can all take a hike.

Seeing as how I was Mormon for the first 18 years of my life doesn't help things any. I thank god every day I wasn't conned into serving as a missionary.

 

[Chazumi]

Oh man this is a great thread! I lived in Utah for 20 of my 21 years. I never really dealt with missionaries till I moved out at 17. At first I was too embarassed to be rude and always spoke with them. But after awhile I just became less and less tolerant so I started telling them to pretty much **** off.

This one time I was uh...inebriated in my vehicle while waiting for a buddy at another friends apartment. I saw some coming up to my car so I took off my glasses to show my bloodshot eyes to mess with them. THey knocked on my window and I was acting all stupid haha, i was like "Woahhh dude....have you like seen jesus? What does he look like? I bet they have killer barbecue in heaven...you think they have barbecue in hell?" haha i love playin with them but I can't stand them all the same.

 

[Nylan]

They sacrifice time, energy, education, and money for two years to share something they love. It's a sacrifice greater than most make in a lifetime. They do take no for an answer, and if you politely ask them to they will leave you alone. There's no reason to be jerks to them. A simple "sorry, not interested" should do.

 

[nc-1701]

Good point Nylan... My question is does that also mean you have to be nice o the Jehova's Witness ones?

 

[bhsup]

Good point Nylan... My question is does that also mean you have to be nice o the Jehova's Witness ones?

Why wouldn't you be? They are incredibly polite as well, at least the ones I have had any experience with are.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I thank god every day I wasn't conned into serving as a missionary.

Do you really? I am also thankful that I wasn't "conned" - this seems to surprise a lot of people, but we actually have free will.

 

[warpus]

No offense to any missionaries, but anyone wandering around handing out "the truth" better have some evidence to back it up with.

I really believe that everyone should be allowed to believe whatever they want.. but if you're going to go around preaching your version of reality as truth, at least be prepared to back it up with some hard evidence. Otherwise it's kinda silly and annoying.

 

[Firstlady]

Do you really? I am also thankful that I wasn't "conned" - this seems to surprise a lot of people, but we actually have free will.

Could you really just choose not to serve a mission? I thought it was required. I do like the idea that they do it on their own free will better though because then it truly would be an amazing sacrifice...not so much as "I'm here because my church requires me to be" but "I'm here because I want to be here"...if that makes any sense.