I was rushing to finish making a strawberry and mango salad (with balsamic vinegar and cracked black pepper) for the monthly gay men's potluck when the missionaries showed up at my door!

I figured this time they were just tracting an stumbled onto the wrong house, but NO, they knew who I was because I'm on some sort of list of Latino members. Except that I'm not a member!!!

I explained that I'd resigned, and they kept insisting that I was on a list... anyway, I told them that they don't want me because a) I'm an evil heretic and b) I'm a f@ggot (yes, I used that word for dramatic effect--don't usually). They turned tail and ran after that.

Why doesn't resigning make a difference!!?

They are desperate for numbers on their monthly report.
Bad numbers makes Mormon God mad.

I don't know but that salad sounds killer.

It is very tasty! Just slice the fruit, sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar over everything, put in a couple of tablespoons of good balsamic and let it marinate for an hour. Add the pepper just before serving.

There's a certain amount of competitiveness in the gay men's potluck world :)

There's a gay man's potluck? Does anyone bring lime jello or funeral potatoes?

How do I get in on that?

Funeral potatoes? Jello? Of course not! Those are completely lacking in fabulosity.

I don't think this potluck phenomenon is restricted to my town. I know of a couple neighboring towns that have their own.

If anyone can make funeral potatoes and jello fabulous it would be the gay potluck crowd. You should do it as a challenge. (I replied to the wrong post.) I'm trying your recipe tonight. Thanks!

Sounds seriously good!

Clearly, the church is not updating its lists. But mormonism is in the national spot light. All you need to say is I've resigned and if the church contacts me again, I'll go to the press.

Is there any way to get a national story on the harassment of members who've resigned? What about the couple that was contacted at 5:30 in the morning to clean the toilets? That would make a great story for the national press.

dk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Clearly, the church is not updating its lists.

The whole bit about the Lord's house being a house of order is baloney, particularly when it comes to anything touched by missionaries.

I imagine a scene where the local leaders, in a moment of "inspiration," figured, "Gee, maybe all the Latinos disappeared from church because everything was in English. Let's start a Spanish language branch."

"But how do we find them to let them know?"

"I don't know. We must have a list somewhere."

After rummaging through file cabinets they find a thirteen year old ward directory. "Let's start with all the Spanish sounding names on the list."

"But this is old. People could have moved. It could take forever to track these people down."

"Eh, give it to the missionaries. They don't have anything beter to do."

LOL I would have loved to watch the 'turned tail and ran' scene.

I suspect one possibility is that many Mormons simply don't understand the word "resigned." COJCOLDS exclusively uses one of two terms "Name removal" or "excommunication." Perhaps if someone says they resigned, that sounds to Mormons like "gone inactive."

Although one shouldn't have to, perhaps if when speaking with Mormons about the subject, those who have resigned will instead say, "We have had our names removed from the records of the church," the Mormons will actually understand.

Then they'll think you were excommunicated. LOL

Good points, Flat Lander. I think a lot of members don't even realize that one can actually send in a letter of resignation.

"No puedo participar porque soy joto!"

Nice!

Ron

Ooooh, I wish I had thought of that line, Ron. It would have been perfect. I told them in English since that's what we'd been speaking.

On a side note, I did have an LDS student show up in my office to vent. He was an art student who wondered how I'd feel about him doing an art project for his major that juxtaposed gay guys in traditional LDS straight images (like your standard wedding party at the temple photo). I said go for it. I think he may have a touch of the bi and is gathering up courage to admit it out loud.

Either that, or you are going to get some paintings of some lovely lesbian couples.

Inverso Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was rushing to finish making a strawberry and
> mango salad (with balsamic vinegar and cracked
> black pepper) for the monthly gay men's potluck
> when the missionaries showed up at my door!
>
> I figured this time they were just tracting an
> stumbled onto the wrong house, but NO, they knew
> who I was because I'm on some sort of list of
> Latino members. Except that I'm not a member!!!
>
> I explained that I'd resigned, and they kept
> insisting that I was on a list... anyway, I told
> them that they don't want me because a) I'm an
> evil heretic and b) I'm a f@ggot (yes, I used that
> word for dramatic effect--don't usually). They
> turned tail and ran after that.
>
> Why doesn't resigning make a difference!!?

Sorry, I didn't mean to quote the whole thing. Gay potluck? Are you in Utah? Just funny because my ex used to always go to those even while we were together. I always called it the gay potluck.....then the gay fhe...

Sounds like good food though. As for the mishies, are they stupid or what???

Nope, not in Utah. I'm in Oregon.

I got to tell the story to the group because they started railing about SLC and Provo, Utah about 5 minutes after I got there. This was only my second time at the potluck and they didn't know me well enough to know I was exmo and had PLENTY to say about Provo.

Oh, and maybe it was called the "gay mormon potluck". I know here it had women also, though mainly men. I think it's way cool. Wish I had somewhere to go on a sunday once in awhile....

Can't believe you used the "f" word on them, that's too funny!

Sounds like the local Bishop has decided on a way to make you long for the opportunity to shine. The spirit was supposed to prick your heart as you contemplate that someone thinks that you, yes you, could be The One.

Had your response been anything less, they would have reported back that you might be worth tormenting, oops, I mean working with to get you back into the church.

By the way, that salad sounds yummy.

Love your blunt language, though! It might be worth sending a letter to the local bishop (with a copy to the membership department at the COB) in both Spanish and English explaining that you already resigned and do not wish to be troubled by church visits any further.

Your salad sounds wonderful. I used to work in a heavily gay industry in NYC, and I always heard about the gay men's parties and get-togethers. They sounded like fun!

I told the missionaries to never stop by unless they wanted an appletini or to watch gay porn! Snerk. So far they haven't taken me up on it. I really wish they'd pass the invite along to the next set of missionaries becausee eventually someone WILL show up for that invitation.

Sometimes your name, address, and/or phone number is floating around on some roster. I got a call from the Institute folks after resigning. The guy was a little stunned when I told him what I did.

Overall, I think resigning helps keep Mormon pestering down--especially if you live outside the corridor.

BTW: I guess the spirit didn't help them on this one. Maybe it was one of those revelations from the devil--like getting a tip on buried treasure, or selling the copyright for the Book of Mormon in Canada.

I'm making that salad tonight. Pairing it with some salmon on the grill, and some good crusty bread.

I'm always looking for something new and different to cook. I've gotten some great ideas on this site. Thanks everyone!

Damn, I would have shown up and started some heavy sh*t. What are they going to do, ex you?

Would have been cool to be the Gospel Doctrine teacher. Think of the lessons you could have given.

"Verga del dios en facsimile #2"

"Brigham Young y Adán-Dios"

"El profeta José Smith y las esposas de sus amigos."

You might be on some outdated (hard copy) list.

Name removal or resignations are not disclosed to the people in the ward.

When I first was called as RS president in a new ward, I got a list of the sisters and a list of families. There were a couple of names on the first page that got my attention so I asked about them. I was told about this one family who got baptized a few years prior but didn't come to church anymore. Then someone else told me they were the ward's 'golden investigators' but had gone inactive probably because they were allowed to go to the temple too soon. Another person told me that they were scared by the temple and that they had never showed up after their endowments. Yet, someone else told me they did show up the Sunday following their endowments and never again. The bishop just told me to not worry about them. Ward Council said yeah too bad about them, let's move on. About a year later, I got an updated list an their name was not on it. There were a few names that I didn't find and was told they had moved. Months later in an informal RS meeting with some sisters who had been in that ward forever and I asked so what was the deal with that family, they were hesitant and told me they were members for just over a year. So I said, 'and they ask to remove their names..' to my surprised everyone knew, they did remove their names. One sister even said she ran into one of the older sons and he asked her 'so, are you still part of that cult?'. People knew by word of mouth, not by proper channels. The Bishop never mentioned them to me and I never asked again. I'm glad for them.

Well, I'm rambling her, but the point is, this information is not advertised, I guess it is because it is not faith promoting.