So, I'm taking the light-hearted approach to this love-bomb tonight instead of getting mad. The reason? My little 11-year-old son is just too freaking cute!

History: Wife and I resigned last April but kept our three kid's (17, 14, 11) names on the records because my TBM family was absolutely freaking out. Kids haven't been to church since we left and they DO NOT want to go back.

Quick story: Evidently, my 11-year-old son's Sunday school class just got some new teachers called to the position (2 OLD guys, in their 70's! Yeah, it's really the spirit who calls people to their positions [eye roll]).

Anyway, they stopped by tonight...at 8:00pm! Our 11-yr-old went to the door and chatted with them for a couple minutes. I had already changed into shorts and a t-shirt for bed. Before I could run into the bedroom to get changed and meet them out front for a discussion, my son had closed the front door and came into the kitchen. He was holding a "missing you" card and a candy bar.

The funny part: Our son grips the candy bar in his hand and says, "Maybe I shouldn't take my name off the records...this is the third candy I've gotten since we've left!"

Now, some of you may get mad for the complete manipulation tactic being employed by those TBMs but we know our son. He actually wants to manipulate them to get more candy! It just made all of us in the kitchen laugh so hard!


That being said, the DW and I were just talking about getting our kid's names removed so we don't have to deal with this sort of thing. Enough time has pasted that I don't care what my family thinks (not that they even need to know).

Edit for the PS:

PS- not that there's anything wrong with being OLD! ;)

I just always hated it when the bishop would call people who had ABSOLUTELY no reason being in certain positions. They're very nice, but two mid-70-year-old guys should not be teaching 11-yr-old boys and girls IMO.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2014 11:49PM by newnamenephi.

That is a very good observation. I think that's exactly what is happening. There's so much candy in the primary that it itself disgusts me. Why would they do that? It's simple.. it forms a positive association with the repetitive message ("follow the prophet, follow the prophet...").

Edit above



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2014 11:49PM by newnamenephi.

How about an 80 year old bishop? The bishops main job is to be in charge of the youth.

To me, that says the old men in slc are getting desperate for younger men that can be leaders.

The bishop would fall asleep on the stand during sacrament meeting. Makes me wonder if the old buzzards in slc are hyped up on provigil so they can stay awake for GC.

I've noticed this too - that sometimes it's easy to take advantage of Mormons trying to reactivate. For example, DD went to the stake dance on New Year's Eve with her LDS friends in a skirt that was definitely right there on the edge of too short. It barely came above her knees but she's tall so while I was sure it was modest, I wasn't sure if it would pass strict Stake Dance standards. I told her if anyone gave her grief to just look tragic and say "I've been inactive for so long - this is my first Mormon activity in ages and I didn't know." The way they are soooo desperate to reactivate, they might have let it slide. Or they would have been jerks, helping give DD a more accurate picture of Mormons. But apparently it was long enough because no one said anything.

My point is that it's a temptation to play them as they attempt to play us. I completely sympathize with your 11-year-old. Also, exposing children to Mormon silliness after they are out of the church can help them see what you are trying to explain to them is wrong with Mormonism. But then, one day it just gets old and that's when it's time to resign.

Actually that is one thing I think is cool about Mormonism is that older people and young people interact. I loved my scout leader who was in his 70's when I was about 11 years old. We had so much fun and he taught us so much. I love what your son said. He is one smart cookie.

In the UK, two unknown adult males plying an 11 year old boy with candy without his parents being present would constitute grooming activity and precipitate a criminal investigation into their behaviour.

Parents need to demonstrate their love and devotion by standing up to manipulation and teaching their children to do the same.

Kids need to learn to say, "My parents don't allow me to accept invitations and sweets from adults they and I barely know."

These people are not grandparents or close friends. They're pushing organization's agenda.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2014 09:41AM by Cheryl.

This is one reason why I just threw away all the candy that was left on our doorstep when someone from the ward decided to do a 12 days of Christmas thing. First of all, 80 percent of it was cheap dollar store candy - I didn't mind that because it probably really added up to buy 12 presents for someone. But the candy itself was yucky. Mostly though, I didn't want my kids to think it's OK to take candy from strangers. We had no idea who the candy was from and even though my kids are teenagers, it isn't cute to take candy or anything from a stranger. If the giver is unknown, then it's better just to chuck the stuff.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/2014 10:49AM by CA girl.

Damn you're smart....AND good.............:)

CA girl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> First of all, 80 percent of it was cheap
> dollar store candy - I didn't mind that because it
> probably really added up to buy 12 presents for
> someone. But the candy itself was yucky.

Most of that cheap dollar store candy is not even made in the USA. Check country of origin. I wouldn't trust any of it especially if it came from China.

And left on my doorstep by strangers? Yikes, no way would I eat it.

Kind of reminds me of an old guy sitting next to your child in the park and asking, "Hello, little girl. Would you like a Walnetto?"

Creepy.

Jewish pedophile: "Hey, little girl, you wanna buy some candy?"

That's a really anti-Semitic "joke." It's not funny to be a bigot, breedumyung.

Bribes and fake friendship are not laughing matters.

Your son won't likely be swayed, but so what? The point is that you are parents, meaning you in charge of protecting your minor child. No one from a cult should be giving your child candy or invitations of this kind without first speaking to you.

Interesting that so many people projected their fears of pedophiles on to the poor 70-year-old Sunday School teachers.

Because you know what I thought of?

I thought of my 11-year-old self hiking in the woods with my grandfather, finding arrowheads, playing with the dogs, running around getting muddy. I adored my grandfather and would have followed him anywhere. He had a lot of wisdom to impart and he was funny as hell -- a real smartass (which is probably where I get it). He would have been incredible with a bunch of 11-year-olds, as say, a scout leader. (Not much of a religious guy at all.)

But all that's off-topic. Here's what I would do. I would reward the kid for standing up for himself and saying no when appropriate by giving him even better candy than the mormons give him. Tell him if he politely refuses and gives the candy back, you will give him candy that's EVEN BETTER. If candy is what reaches your kid, then just one-up the stupid church.

"Anyway, they stopped by tonight...at 8:00pm! Our 11-yr-old went to the door and chatted with them for a couple minutes. I had already changed into shorts and a t-shirt for bed. Before I could run into the bedroom to get changed and meet them out front for a discussion, my son had closed the front door and came into the kitchen. He was holding a "missing you" card and a candy bar.

The funny part: Our son grips the candy bar in his hand and says, "Maybe I shouldn't take my name off the records...this is the third candy I've gotten since we've left!"


Alarm bells going off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is bad. As a parent you need to P-R-O-T-E-C-T...you kids from these kind of people. If Cathloics, methodists, buddhists, or muslims were doing this with your young child....what would you do?????????

This is predatory behavior pure and simple...As a PARENT you need to stop it..NOW!!



Honestly, How do young mormon kids NOT get abducted more often, when they regularly give in to those types of practices you mentioned.....

Your kid is allowed to talk to people alone at the door? At night?

I knew I'd get a bunch of different reactions! :)

The guys are not strangers. I've known them for years. And they're very kind-hearted, nice people.

Again, I didn't really mean "old" in a derogatory way. We've just had too many programs fail because the wrong type of people are heading them up. Here's a few OT examples:

1) Putting in a Japanese woman, who BARELY speaks english, as the YW president. That lasted only a few months.
2) Calling a VERY INTROVERTED, quiet, non-committal guy, as scoutmaster. He had no kids in scouting, no reason to be involved, no personality to get involved. It was a disaster to the scouting program. Again, nice enough guy but totally wrong job position for him.
3) Calling another person to a young primary class who was going through major personal issues and was told they "couldn't be alone with them kids."
4) Calling a 80-year-old to head up the scouting committee who had never had ANY experience in scouting (never a previous scouting position).

I run my own business. I have to know if my employee will succeed in their job. I would never put someone into a position that I wasn't 100% sure they're right for the job.

The church, as a business, should be making much wiser career choices for its members.


I do love the one poster that said for us to buy our son a better candy/item for declining the love-bomb. :)

unless these people get prior parent permission. It bad practice. You seem to trust these particular Mormons, but it could as easily be scientologists, child porn recruiters, or holy rollers at the door.

I taught my daughter a lesson because of the "candy" and churches.

We told her about the many churches in our area that give out candy to get kids to go to church. One church even has a bus that will pick up kids and gives them candy each time they get on the bus.

We told her that "candy" might be literally candy, but it could also be a summer camp, a dance, a bounce house, a carnival, or anything that is being used to get you to go. I told her that the important part of any religion isn't the "candy" and that any honest religion will try to get you involved by telling you what they believe and not bribing you.

I also pointed out that some of the things that religion believes are "candy," for example being with your family after you die, saying that you beloved pet is with G-d and in a better place. She gets it and is more innoculated to these tactics. Occasionally together we will accept the "candy" because we know what it really is.

I'm thrilled that so many parents are taking the time to help their children learn this valuable concept.

We got the miss you letter from our 8 year olds new teachers, complete with "we miss you" "we love you" these people have never even met my son! My nevermo DH is a bit pissed and said he will put a stop to it if they continue. DS is not baptized nor will he be, we can't resign yet due to family issues, but will do it as soon as possible.