A guy I've known for several decades, I found out today, was baptized last fall. At first I thought he was joking, but no he wasn't...and now he's wondering what he's gotten himself in for. He lives on a rural road surrounded by Mormons near my old stomping grounds about 6 miles from here and I guess he was piled upon and succumbed. He's a real estate agent and in fact has the listing for the farm of my HP geezer (HPG) nemesis I've written about extensively here.
It was an interesting conversation. He told me the HPG`s wife was the one who wanted it sold so they can move into the city and that the HPG is being an asshole about it. And then he tells me the guy`s kids don't have much to do with him either because he was so mean to them when they were growing up. He (the HP geezer) is an uber TBM and bully and treats anyone not toeing the line poorly. He screwed his own brother over for years. I just hope his time is limited (he`s 90) so his wife can enjoy her money after he takes the dirt nap.

Ron Burr

poor guy

shmuck

Your friend may have converted for business sake. Since he's surrounded by Mos, then they favor their church neighbors over the 'unenlightened others.'

I know from visiting St. George in January, there's lots of croniesm and nepotism there, amongst the LDS. As a real estate agent they refer family and friends to other LDS. LDS is keenly aware of this, so many TBM may only be "in" it for the business.

He may only be trying to maneuver from the sounds of it, to help his reputation and grow his clientele. It's a smart business move on his part, but if his heart isn't really into the religion it may still hinder his business. Unless he's a really good actor.

That would not surprise me. I was running down the church pretty good in front of him this afternoon...and he was listening.

RB

I think a new abbreviation is in order:

NMM: Newly Minted Mormon


and its correlary:

RUMM: Recently Unminted Mormon

Or will he remain disgruntled and silent?

If he is 90 and doesn't have much time left, he probably wants to hedge his bets with the afterlife. If there is no afterlife, he looses nothing. If there is an afterlife, he has just had a reset on his list of sins.

The NMM real estate guys is someone I hope to see again. I want to know who put the pressure on him to drink the Kool Aid. I've already told him how I was raised. with respect and how I raised my children with zero church exposure so hopefully I can knock a couple bricks off his Mormon wall. This could be interesting.

Ron Burr