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What it means to be a Mormon

...getting asked how many wives I have
...hearing, "Oh, really? That's not something you hear everyday..."
...having people assume things about you that are not necessarily true (NO, I am not a republican, gun owner, father of twenty-seven children, ignoramus, freak, weirdo, whatever - I am just a guy trying to make it)
...getting asked if I ski (no, that's why I moved to TEXAS!)
...having to engage people in religious conversations (not that I mind, but I wonder if Baptists and Methodists ever feel like they have to compare notes...)
...being a part of a ward, quorum, presidency, bishopric, council, etc. (I am only a member of a quorum and ward, but I will probably end up in a group) - this is one of the coolest parts of being LDS: you are ALWAYS a part of some organization that wants and welcomes you
...being able to explain what the Book of Mormon is (it's Another Testament of Jesus Christ, duh!)
...wanting to belong but always being aware of your "otherness" especially when you go out to eat and everyone gets something to drink (this happened to me when I lived in Michigan - I went to a bar with some friends and the waitress asked me if I wanted anything and I said "no thanks I'm driving" and then having all my friends start laughing because they weren't walking home)
...going to church on Sunday and Wednesday and Saturday (to worship, have activities, and clean, in that order)
...not going to the temple on Sunday (they're not open on Sunday or Monday nights - they are not for Sunday worship)
...having had (at least once) a very real experience with the Holy Spirit - it's different for everyone, very personal and very touching - and knowing at that moment beyond any doubt the truthfulness of what we are all about
...knowing what "funeral potatoes" are
...finding yourself thinking that while you only have two children a minivan is not a bad idea "just in case"
...having brothers and sisters in several states (we are in Arizona, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Germany - in the Army, but moving to Arizona soon, and Alex is in Finland, but coming home soon)
...wanting to be with your family forever
...knowing that it's possible
,,,hoping your worthy of it
...loving people you've never met
...having a box of old photos under your bed as a start
...one word - genealogy
...two words - missionary service
...three words - elder's quorum basketball
...knowing the difference between the John Longhurst and Clay Christensen when you listen to conference (we'll miss you, Brother Longhurst)
...knowing what "conference" is
...calling everyone "brother" or "sister" even if they are younger than you
...knowing what tribe you are from (me - Ephraim; YS - Dan)
...thinking that the fact that YS is in Dan is cool, just because it's different
...wondering how fast they could have gotten a covered wagon going out on the Salt Flats
...THE MORMON METEOR! ('nuff said)
...knowing how to say words like Tooele, Duchesne, Ammaron, Ammon, Mahonri Moriancumer
...wondering how useful the cureloms and cumoms really were, and why we don't get any if they were so useful

Comments

The Herd Mom said…
Great post, Brother. :)

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