Missionaries came over last night. They were let in without my knowledge so I had no choice. I was pretty surprised about how they were. They just asked stuff about school. They shared their message and respected what I had to say when I explained why I haven't been in church in a while.

They did say that they were BIC and I sort of zoned out while they were bearing their testimonies. Not trying to hate on these lads but in my case, if you're BIC and you grew up not really having a strong desire to question or go against the church then find your way back, I don't think your testimonies would be incredibly useful. I'd admire it but it won't be enough to bring me back.

Anyway, a few days ago I got another text from my visiting teacher (the one who asked me if I was sleeping with my non-mo boyfriend) saying that I was on a slippery slope.

I admire missionaries who spend 2 years in a foreign country preaching what they believe in, but it's the other members of the church who are incredibly frustrating at times. I think I'd talk to more missionaries (because I don't hate them but I most likely will not be back to TSCC) if it weren't for the pushy ones in my ward. Super annoying.

sounds like you lucked out. The problem is that another pair of missionaries could be the exact opposite. You just never know what you're going to get until it's too late

It's none of her business what you do ever. It's beyond rude and crossing lines to text you shit like that!! I'd respond with something snarky. How rude!

I agree. It would be tempting to respond with something like "and you are on the slippery slope of harassment".

Respecting people's boundaries is one of the, if not THE, most important thing parents could teach their children before they go on missions. Unfortunately, very few mormon parents certainly none in my own family who are mothers, have any concept of the meaning of boundaries, so cannot teach it themselves.

I don't think they are really respecting boundaries unless they are just tourist missionaries. It is likely they are seeking to gain your trust and that after they gain your trust that is when they will overstep the boundaries. Some are more bold at this and do it from the get go, but they aren't usually the successful ones. The "good" missionaries will befriend you, gain your trust, and then berate you for not doing what is "right" and will try to guilt you into choosing the "right". Hopefully they are just passing time on their "mission", but if I were you I'd not give them the time of the day.

One step at a time to gradually build trust before laying things on the line.

It's the strategy mishies learn at the mission training center and that other salesmen learn from their supervisors and marketing training specialists.

Missionaries are tricky...I know I was a very laid back one in the day. If you didn't want to hear my message, no skin off my nose. I would just move on. But I was in Ireland, so pretty much no one wanted to hear my message.

I am wondering how the missionaries will be when they find out about me. We had the sisters come over once, but I don't know if they know that I no longer believe. It's not something I was hiding, but I would rather just not deal with them.

But I don't think I have to worry about it. My wife doesn't even want me in church with her cause she gets uncomfortable listening to Gospel stuff when I am around. So she doesn't want missionaries over anymore then I do. :)

Being nice and collecting information is a fine line. I used to bring mishies and ht's in. Now I can entertain them on the porch. That is what is is for.

Missionaries and mormons in general push and pull to whatever point they think their targets will tolerate. Good that these mishies didn't push too far. Reciting testimonies would have had these guys leaving my house in an instant.

"Sorry, guys, you need to leave. I'm not a Mormon and your so-called testimonies are not something I allow in this home."

That isn't hate. It's expressing what most nonmos, including me, think. I'd say the same thing to a JW, a Muslim, or a holy roller.

That VTer went beyond what more well mannered Mormons would do. She must have assumed she had a right to shove you around out of "friendship."

Ava Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyway, a few days ago I got another text from my visiting teacher (the one who asked me if I was sleeping with my non-mo boyfriend) saying that I was on a slippery slope.

I would tell her that a) it's not her business, and b) not to come back to my house or call/text me again, ever.

Missionaries are people - young, naive, oftentimes ill-educated, manipulated people.

Some will be insufferable. Some will be the nicest, most genuine folks you'll meet.

Some respect boundaries. Some are assholes.

I was not an asshole missionary. My missions friends weren't assholes. We knew who the assholes were, and we despised them.

Door-to-door salespeople are obnoxious to most people, especially if you are or once were a consumer of their product. My parents used to get their food delivered to their door by a service. Once they canceled their service they still had salespeople regularly call or show up at their doorstep, asking them to reconsider or to fill out a survey. It's the nature of the beast of high - pressure sales.

If they're nice, I tend to return it in kind, but let them know, firmly, that I am not interested. If they are rude, then I will open the verbal floodgates against them.

According to my mission president, one of my "problems" was that I wasn't aggressive (pushy) enough. I respected people's privacy and didn't venture where I wasn't wanted. I figured you couldn't annoy people into the church.

Can't we bear our testimonies back at them?

"I have a burning testimony that Joseph Smith promised Heber C. and Vilate Kimball eternal life so that he could have their 14 year-old daughter, Helen Mar. He wanted her badly, so that he could have sex with a 14 year-old. What kind of paedophile would not want that?"

cludgie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can't we bear our testimonies back at them?
>
> "I have a burning testimony that Joseph Smith
> promised Heber C. and Vilate Kimball eternal life
> so that he could have their 14 year-old daughter,
> Helen Mar. He wanted her badly, so that he could
> have sex with a 14 year-old. What kind of
> paedophile would not want that?"

My first rule with mishies is NO bearing of testimonies. I've heard it before and it only tells me that you are convinced, but nothing about truth or reality.

Because I would listen to, and consider other people's points of view. "Good" missionaries knew that they were right, and everybody else was wrong.