Monday, July 7, 2008

On bicycling Mormon missionaries:

"While I admire their devotion to their faith, I would ask of them to be more respectful to one's right to privacy in one's home. Recently, two of them approached me, and while I respectfully told them I was not interested in talking to them, they proceeded to question me!" — s & W 500

"S&W 500, I'm a Mormon and I agree with you completely. There's a line between 'religious minister' and 'pushy salesman,' and lots of these kids are just too young and too zealous to recognize the difference." — JD

"I'm Catholic, and secure in my faith. My son has Mormon friends, and they're very nice people. Some missionaries have visited us before, and they've always been polite and understanding. My son's Mormon friends respect that we remain practicing Catholics." — Mrs. S.

"My family is Moron and I'm not. Nor do I care to become Mormon. I have done my share with slamming the door and the water hose and sicking the dog on them. ... Don't even come to me thinking your faith is better than mine or the next guy down the street. When we ask you to go away we want you to go away, not keep trying to lure us into your church." — Speaker

"It sucks living right down the street from them. It's like they listen for me to start the lawn mower and then magically show up on their bikes. I used to be polite, but now it's just annoying. I was about to pull into my driveway the other day when I saw them. I drove around the block instead." — Bob Loblaw

"I grew up in another Christian denomination but always felt something was missing. I decided to learn about the LDS church and after missionaries taught me about the church I was baptized in 2006. I can honestly say that thanks to the two awesome missionaries that taught me about the church, me and my family have true happiness in our lives. I have no doubt that the LDS church is the restored church of Jesus Christ on this earth." — Lodi

"I feel sorry for these boys not being able to contact their family except for Mother's Day and Christmas. And they are only allowed to write letters once a week. We are not living in the past century any more. These kids need to be able to communicate with their families." — galt citizen

"Where are the women??" — Robb

Quick Comments are selected from among those posted online at www.lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

friend wrote on Jul 12, 2008 7:25 PM:

" I have personally had missionaries from other churches come to my door and found it very easy to talk to them in a respectful and cordial way without feeling attacked or imposed upon, even when my goal was to let them know I was not interested in hearing their message. I think we could all benefit from an increase in tolerance, patience and love for those around us and remember the value and importance of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Even if a first 'not interested' is not understood, surely a second or third will be (even without loosing the dog). Missionaries are not trying to 'force' their religion on others, but are simply practicing their religion and exercising their right to speak their own conscience by inviting all to come unto Christ. "

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friend wrote on Jul 12, 2008 7:21 PM:

" The Lord Jesus Christ himself was a traveling minister, one who was rejected, persecuted, mocked, spit upon and ultimately crucified because he would not stop teaching true doctrine or blessing the lives of all who would listen. Having served for two years as a full time missionary and having gone door to door with missionaries in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah and Taiwan, I can attest to the sincerity, love and respect that missionaries have for those they come in contact with. The vast majority of them do not want to be pushy, but simply want to give others ample opportunity to receive the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to find out for themselves whether the message they share is true. It may do us all some good to ponder on the experience of Peter and John as recorded in the 4th chapter of Acts. They were threatened and commanded by the Sadduccees not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. These servants of the Lord responded with these words: "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." "

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gray cloud wrote on Jul 8, 2008 8:12 AM:

" Marty and/or Rich:

Shouldn't this story have been placed in the Religion section ? "

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ammonihah wrote on Jul 7, 2008 8:23 PM:

" Galt Citizen - Don't feel too sorry for the Elders and their ability to call home. I served a mission in North Carolina for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years back in the early 80's. It was a great experience. The people of that state treated us well, inviting us in to eat at almost every door and most were willing to sit down and have a discussion about Jesus Christ and learn how the Book of Mormon can be a second witness of Jesus Christ.

During the time that I was away from my family, I wrote almost every week as do most missionaries. Those letters to my parents and from my parents became a great journal of a special time in my life. Not calling home also helped me to mature and develop important life skills.

But most important, it helped me to lean on the Savior rather than others. It helped me develop a greater testimony of the divine mission of Christ and how his mission directly impacts my life. "

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