Tuesday, June 22, 2010

help me out here

So, if there IS anyone out there listening to this here blog, and willing to respond, I'd like some input on something . . .

The nonfiction piece I'm working on right now has to do with Mormon/Latter-day Saint culture and how it is viewed, both from within and without the Mormon church, as well as some aspects of Mormon folklore.

So, if anyone would like to tell me what they think about the Mormon/LDS Church, I would love to hear it.*

They can be true or untrue, outrageous or plausible, ambiguous or certain, or any number of things.  Really, I'm just looking for opinions, and as many as I have, even I run out of them sometimes.  So if you have a few to spare, or have heard an interesting one or three, let me know.


Some broad examples of things I'm looking for:  Mormons as polygamists, Mormons have horns, the three Nephites, Johnny Lingo, Mormons can't drink alcohol, Mormon Missionaries, Mormons go to BYU just to get married, brainwash their children, etc. . . .

If you are a member of the LDS Church, what are some interesting aspects of Mormon culture?  They can be funny, serious, controversial, or whatever.  Or what are some memorable Mormon folklore stories, or odd expectations, or anything?

If you are not a member of the LDS Church, what impressions do you have of Mormons in general?  What rumors/interesting facts/strange beliefs have you heard about them?

Or, if you haven't heard of the Mormon church at all, tell me that, too.  That is perfectly acceptable (and useful to me as well).

So . . . if there is anyone out there actually following this blog, I would love to hear some ideas.  If not, I'll survive.  I just thought I'd ask!

And, incidentally, if any of you are interested in what the heck I'm talking about or what Mormons REALLY believe/do/practice/whatever, the best sight I could direct you to is this one.  You can ask questions there, find out about our beliefs, and a lot more.

*  Here's some fine print:  Although I'm interested in all anecdotes, rumors, impressions, and what have you (really anything is valid), the point of this post is not to start a debate on any number of issues.  I will be including some things regarding Prop 8 in the piece, but I'm not interested in debating the topic right here, right now.  However, if you do have something interesting to say on the subject that you think I might be able to integrate into the piece, then by all means feel free to tell me it!  Controversial issues are, duh, controversial, and sometimes that is what makes them worth talking/writing about.  Thanks in advance for your input.

4 comments:

  1. I used to think that Mormons drowned their ugly babies, because it seemed like most Mormons, especially young Mormon women, are attractive. I've moved away from the drowning theory and now suspect that Mormon girls feel more pressure to look attractive, and I suspect that especially has to do with the role of women in the Mormon cosmology (which I actually know very little about but I assume is pretty deeply entrenched in the patriarchy). Also, hi! Strangely enough, I think you were in a dream I had the other night.

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  2. and hello to you. a DREAM??!! lol...strangely enough, indeed.

    and drowning babies is perfect. exactly the kind of thing i'm looking for, thanks!

    also, may you fall a thousand times into a boiling pool of lava-vomiting piranhas.

    (i hope that doesn't scare off further comments...!)

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  3. Did you check out http://www.holyfetch.com/ ?

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  4. Other things include the tunnels under the temple that go all over the world. The three Nephite stories. Sasquatch. Hyrum stories - (those stories that make you feel guilty for doing the worng things which are prevelant in most all reliigons).

    I was talking to some non LDS people when I was in Utah a few months ago and they mentioned that they are tired of all the radio, TV, and billboard ads about LDS things or events that they dont understand. A lot to be said about that on both sides.

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