It amazes me at how misunderstood

[BYU71]

Originally Posted by YOhio

I'm not surprised that we're misunderstood. Just talk to a Latter-day Saint about Jehovah Witness teachings or the differences among Protestant denominations and you'll get an incredible amount of bias and misinformation. When we're willfuly ignorant about the beliefs of others, we shouldn't be surprised that others follow suit.

I think the bigger question is why we should care? For the past ten years, we've heard quite a bit about the PR campaign of the church. After all of these efforts, it seems clear that it has met it's intended purpose. I think there is a lesson there. That is, we shouldn't care. We should proudly believe what we believe, no matter how bizarre it seems to others. Wordly acceptance is not now, nor has it ever been, the aim of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here is why I care. I don't live in Goshen, Ut. Population 1000 and all LDS where the Bishop tells you it is OK to kidnap your daughter and save her from marrying the wrong guy.

I have to deal with people who are not members of my faith. I don't want them with the preconceived notion that because I am a BYU grad. I think anyone who has a drink or smokes a cigar is a lepar.

As far as my beliefs go I will discuss them with anyone and I will stick to them. I just prefer not to be automatically associated with beliefs I don't have.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by BYU71

Here is why I care. I don't live in Goshen, Ut. Population 1000 and all LDS where the Bishop tells you it is OK to kidnap your daughter and save her from marrying the wrong guy.

I have to deal with people who are not members of my faith. I don't want them with the preconceived notion that because I am a BYU grad. I think anyone who has a drink or smokes a cigar is a lepar.

As far as my beliefs go I will discuss them with anyone and I will stick to them. I just prefer not to be automatically associated with beliefs I don't have.

You don't want people who are willfully ignorant about your faith to think you're a nut. I'm sorry, but there is no solution to that problem. It's nobody's fault but theirs and they are the ones who should be embarrassed. Not you. The church has tried to dispel crazy notions through expensive and expansive PR campaigns, but it has fallen on deaf ears.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by BYU71

Here is why I care. I don't live in Goshen, Ut. Population 1000 and all LDS where the Bishop tells you it is OK to kidnap your daughter and save her from marrying the wrong guy.

I have to deal with people who are not members of my faith. I don't want them with the preconceived notion that because I am a BYU grad. I think anyone who has a drink or smokes a cigar is a lepar.

As far as my beliefs go I will discuss them with anyone and I will stick to them. I just prefer not to be automatically associated with beliefs I don't have.

Usually I find that most professionals don't care if their business consultants are weird if they simply know their business. In Nevada they won't know your religion unless you advertise it. I usually don't reveal my religious affiliation until after I know they like me. IOW, sometimes they never know.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by YOhio

You don't want people who are willfully ignorant about your faith to think you're a nut. I'm sorry, but there is no solution to that problem. It's nobody's fault but theirs and they are the ones who should be embarrassed. Not you. The church has tried to dispel crazy notions through expensive and expansive PR campaigns, but it has fallen on deaf ears.

I agree with this.

I don't care what others think about my religious beliefs. I know what I believe and that's good enough for me.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Usually I find that most professionals don't care if their business consultants are weird if they simply know their business. In Nevada they won't know your religion unless you advertise it. I usually don't reveal my religious affiliation until after I know they like me. IOW, sometimes they never know.

I rarely tell anyone what my religion is, but I will talk BYU sports a lot and people are capable of putting 2 and 2 together from there.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by BYU71

Here is why I care. I don't live in Goshen, Ut. Population 1000 and all LDS where the Bishop tells you it is OK to kidnap your daughter and save her from marrying the wrong guy.

I have to deal with people who are not members of my faith. I don't want them with the preconceived notion that because I am a BYU grad. I think anyone who has a drink or smokes a cigar is a lepar.

As far as my beliefs go I will discuss them with anyone and I will stick to them. I just prefer not to be automatically associated with beliefs I don't have.

Hey now. That's family you're talking about!

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by BYU71

Here is why I care. I don't live in Goshen, Ut. Population 1000 and all LDS where the Bishop tells you it is OK to kidnap your daughter and save her from marrying the wrong guy.

I think that was a Monticello family that kidnapped their daughter.

[BYU71]

Originally Posted by YOhio

You don't want people who are willfully ignorant about your faith to think you're a nut. I'm sorry, but there is no solution to that problem. It's nobody's fault but theirs and they are the ones who should be embarrassed. Not you. The church has tried to dispel crazy notions through expensive and expansive PR campaigns, but it has fallen on deaf ears.

Personally, I don't think it is the lack of understanding that bothers a lot of people. I think it is the "we are better than you" attitude.

I have had encounters with non-members who don't like "the church". When we get into it, they like me, they like so and so, they like so and so and on and on. I ask, these are all mormons, why don't you like the church. The answer, you and they aren't typical. Most mormons think they are better than everyone else.

The PR falls on deaf ears for a reason.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by BYU71

Personally, I don't think it is the lack of understanding that bothers a lot of people. I think it is the "we are better than you" attitude.

I have had encounters with non-members who don't like "the church". When we get into it, they like me, they like so and so, they like so and so and on and on. I ask, these are all mormons, why don't you like the church. The answer, you and they aren't typical. Most mormons think they are better than everyone else.

The PR falls on deaf ears for a reason.

Back to your original question. Why are you amazed that we're misunderstood if the members are pricks?

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by BYU71

Personally, I don't think it is the lack of understanding that bothers a lot of people. I think it is the "we are better than you" attitude.

I have had encounters with non-members who don't like "the church". When we get into it, they like me, they like so and so, they like so and so and on and on. I ask, these are all mormons, why don't you like the church. The answer, you and they aren't typical. Most mormons think they are better than everyone else.

The PR falls on deaf ears for a reason.

Maybe it's because we do think we're better than others. We're works focused and we're the true church. How could we NOT be better than everyone else?