Posted by:
Anon Utahn
(
)
Date: June 15, 2015 01:18AM
I live in a very Mormon community in the Salt Lake City area. Today a friend invited me to attend Sacrament meeting because her daughter is leaving for her mission in South America and was giving her farewell talk. And, her son just returned home from a mission in an Eastern European country and was giving his homecoming talk in the same meeting. I expected the meeting to be packed - this is a popular family with 6 kids, held many callings, own a local business and have lived in the area forever. They are very active in the community but still...
I got late (I hate to sit through the passing of the sacrament and try to arrive toward the end of it.) The parking lot was only 2/3rds full, the overflow hadn't been opened and there were actually seats still available in the foyer. I settled down in a comfy stuffed chair and someone invited me to come into the chapel saying "There are still plenty of seats in the chapel if you like." I declined. But I was shocked because just a couple of years ago, this sort of meeting, for this well-liked family who have a lot of local relatives, would have flowed over into the gym.
Two other quick observations. The son who just returned from his mission didn't mention a single baptism. In fact, about a fourth of his talk was on reasons people came up with not to listen to Mormons, calling them a cult or simply saying faith in God is enough and there is no reason to jump through all those hoops the missionaries suggested. The other thing I noticed was a real feeling of emptiness. I'd had a big breakfast but I suddenly started feeling like I was starving - like I wanted to go home and binge eat. This was more than the normal, palpable boredom that has been a part of Utah Mormonism for years. This was an empty feeling I'd never noticed in a sacrament meeting before. It made me sad but it also made me realize I've found something better to feast on than whatever it is that Mormonism thinks it gives it's members. So glad I won't feel I have to go back to another meeting like that for a very long time.