Have you learned anything new about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly known as Mormons) recently, amidst publicity due to the Olympics in Salt Lake City?

I haven't heard any of this publicity.

I learned by reading a magazine article about Salt Lake City, that their great restaurants are a bit different from restaurants elsewhere, as freshness, purity, and cleanliness are emphasized more than in other places, because of their religious views on health and food. I also learned that the frosty Root Beer Float is a common dessert drink there (which makes sense because coffee and tea are forbidden, and hot cocoa is fine in winter, but what about summer?).

I already knew that Subway (a popular sandwich shop in the US) was founded by a Mormon, because he didn't trust the cleanliness of most fast food places, nor did he like the nutrition, so he opened a place where you can actually watch the employees make the sandwiches, and lots of fresh vegetables are in them. I also heard that if Mormon Missionaries (those young men in suits and ties who always travel in pairs and go around trying to spread their religion) are without an appointment for dinner and have no money left for food (because they are expected to survive on very little money, and they rely on the hospitality of the members of the community they visit for dinner)
then they can eat at Subway free of charge, as long as it is an emergency, not just them using it for a free meal.

Other than that, I know more about them than I should, considering I'm not one, because we often feed local pairs of missionaries, and they are very appreciative, because they are often invited to dinners consisting of hot dogs and potato chips, or boxed macaroni and cheese, by people who don't know how to cook. I feel sorry for them, and invite them over regularly. This week I will be treating them to (or tormenting them with!) an Indian Feast my girlfriend and I are putting together. Dal and Naan, Saag Paneer, Chicken Curry and rice, Raita, and a few other things.

Have heard nothing about any of this.

No- I live in Salt Lake, and have all my life... my extended family is LDS and my husband used to be. His father designed the sound system for the tabernacle at the temple, I know ALOT about them, but I don't care to share most of it, because I find it to be disturbing and also because I still have close friends that are LDS and I would not disrespect their desire for privacy.

No. We've been cut from prime-time CBS and NBC (ABC altogether) all over Central and South America. We only get the morning news, the soaps, Oprah and the late-night talk shows. Fudging CEO bastards. So I have virtually no way of knowing about Olympics hype.

A & W Rootbeer and the Mariott Hotel chain were founded by a Mormon. The company I work for is Mormon owned and is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I haven't learned anything new. I knew a little before from some children's books I read called The Great Brain.

nothing new. I lived with one as a teen for a bit.

They're having the Olympics in Utah? I didn't know that. I don't expose myself to very many sources of publicity, so I'm not too surprised that I missed it. I think I am fairly knowledgeable on the topic of Mormon beliefs and history.

Morons are cool.

no

I haven't seen any of the publicity.I just know it is a weird ass religion.

what publicity?

Don't care.

I am a Mormon, so I know a lot about my religion

Haven't been following the Olympics, don't know anything about the Mormons. They're bigamists. Founded by John Smith. That's the extent of my knowledge.

No, but you should all go see Orgazmo.

Keep looking dear, you will find the truth!

I heard they're really arrogant. They think that they're right, and if you don't agree with them, your wrong, no matter what is in your heart. Just like the Christians and Catholics and so on. That's just what I've heard though. It could be wrong.

That's quite a sweeping generalisation about Christians and Catholics there.

I'm not sure if my mom is like that anymore. We don't really talk about that kind of thing anymore. After she realized that forcing me to go to church had the opposite effect that she intended she backed way off. Sorry I was so offensive. I'm just a super nervous wreck when it comes to the 'I'm right you're wrong' thing. I'm not a very rational person when I get in that mode. I don't usually like even talking to people that follow one of my 'black list' religions because I get so incredibly defensive. I've never liked the idea of God having a sales pitch. I don't know. I should just shut my trap. Anyway, I'm sorry if I offended you.

It's okay, I'm not offended, I just wanted you to know that not all Christians are into the "I'm right, you're wrong" thing. Unfortunately, for the quiet majority, it's the over-opinionated ones that are the loudest!

Please don't shut your trap. This is a place for talking openly.

Well that's a side of me I don't like expressing. I've been working on my prejudices for a long time. They're not something to be proud of, that's for sure.

I haven't learned anything new yet, but I know they make a lot of TV programs and that they never smoke (anything), drink alcoholic beverages, coffee or tea. They are very active genealogists, since they believe they can save their ancestors' souls too if they know who they were.

Their holy book is the Book of Mormon, if I remember right. I don't know this for sure but I think their religion was founded by guy called Smith (forgive me if I am wrong) in the state of N.Y. during the 1830s. During their early years the Mormon men were allowed to have several wives. Later this was changed.

How does it work that you're feeding missionaries regularly? If they come to my door, can I just ask if they've got an appointment for supper or not? I think it would be fun to cook a meal for them, and have a conversation about religion with them, as long as any of my house mates who would hate it were not home that night.

What publicity lately??? Like what's new with them now?? I watch the news constently & I haven't seen anything on them as of yet.

All I know about them is that they're bigomist & have extremly large families in Utah.

Oh & Donny & Marie come from there.

What publicity lately??? Like what's new with them now?? I watch the news constently & I haven't seen anything on them as of yet.

All I know about them is that they're bigamist & have extremly large families in Utah.

Oh & Donny & Marie come from there.

My MSN dropped me & that's how this double thingy happened. Sorry.

no

About the bigamy thing, that is no longer their policy or belief, except isolated enclaves of "Rogue" Mormons. Also, they got called Mormon because the Book of Mormon is so called, but they themselves are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or for short, either Church of Jesus Christ (that's what they want the Olympics coverage news to refer to them as) or, amongst themselves, simply LDS.)

The publicity I found was the front page of a recent Newsweek Magazine, and two large articles were dedicated to them.
I also saw an article in a Gourmet magazine, about the restaurants and eating culture in Salt Lake City. Apparently they are known as great sugar-fiends, having denied other common addictions. Salt Lake City is heaven for anyone who loves Ice Cream.

How did I come to be feeding the missionaries? They used to come and visit my husband's store, and he got to know them, and since religion is one subject he really enjoys studying and discussing, he started having discussions with them. Eventually, we found out that they depend on local hospitality a great deal for their dinner, and I was delighted to have them over.

They are young men in their late teens and early twenties, right out of high school, who vary as much individually as any other people. We were lucky in that the first pair we met were intelligent and sociable and unusually mature, in addition to being the usual polite, clean-cut, and respectful people they are supposed to be.

Since then, we have seen some who reminded us of evangelical fundamentalists, used car salesmen, poor nervous kids trying hard to tow the party line, or somewhat bored and drifting teens who are doing it because their families expect it, but most of these were positive experiences anyway, because the veneer of social newness wears off after a while, and the real personality emerges, and most of them have turned out to be young men my husband and I genuinely liked and felt empathy for. It isn't their fault that some are better suited to the life of public figures than others.

I can wholeheartedly recommend the experience, because they are a testament to their upbringing. Nowhere else have I seen such a high percentage of youth who are so articulate, intellectually mature, polite, and easy-going. They must be doing something right!
Yes, they are still boys on the threshold of manhood, and they have all the same qualms and awkward moments of self-doubt that everyone does at that age, but I think they show for the most part the potential that a good home and a good upbringing has to change the society we live in for the better.

Yes, you could just tell them if they came knocking that you heard they have supper with locals regularly, and that you would be interested in sharing your home with them for an evening of dinner and conversation. Or, if they haven't come knocking and you don't know how to get in contact with them, I suppose you could call anything in the telephone book with the words "Latter-Day Saints" in it and get directed to someone who could hook you up.

You can be honest in the beginning and tell them that you are curious about them and would look forward to open-ended discussions, but that you don't feel comfortable with being "sold" on their religion, and they will probably be very respectful of that. Most of them aren't zealots who can only talk about one thing, and they are pretty friendly in my experience, especially once they get to know you.

Ah yes, the one I lived with consumed mass quantities of sugar, but then so do I.
I'd love to lure religious proselytyzers into my chambers.

1/18 8:53pm
Rogue Mormans?? Wow! Who would've thought? I guess your right tho.
Do you have that link STILL?? I'd like to read a little more about them & their "culture".Sugar fien's huh?? Interesting! I love my sugar too!!

Some people regard "their religion as a CULT.Have you heard of this?? Cause I was wondering just what,it "CULT" like about them. Personally,I find them very pleasant human beings to be around.They seem so kind & gentle natured.You know? Kinda low profile & all.

Probably christians of the most popular sects, who consider any other religion or sect a cult, not realising that by definition, they too are a cult.

Hummmm never thought of it that way.Good point!