He writes,
"Look at this. The BOM talks about you.
"And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things"
"Love you!"

Not sure how to reply. Any suggestions on how to do this with comedy?

"Who is this?"

Would like to remain anonymous

I think Jeff meant that as the reply to send your grandson, wasn't asking you.

Oh Duh!!! Thanks

Great suggestion. I just responded,
"Who is this? And what have you done with my loving grandson?"

"And the New Testament talks about YOU!"

Select a verse pertaining to the Pharisees.

"Love you!"

"Look at this. The BIBLE talks about you.
'A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.'
Love you!"

Holy sh*t the bible is sexist. But that would be funny to tell your grandson nonetheless.

IN ~ on comedy thred ~

Wow. Youth and Mormonism. What a combination. I admire that you want to keep this in the comedy arena.

"Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words." Dorothy Parker

The above quote would go over his head most likely, which is what you want.

Or

I thought of your prophets when I read this quote by Mark Twain.

"The art of prophecy is very difficult, especially with respect to the future."

Ever check out how many of Joseph Smith's prophecies came true?

Love
Grandpa

I know none of that is quite right but maybe it will help something spring to mind. I wouldn't even respond after such a condescending remark. Never needed family that bad.

My advice, FWIW: don't say anything to him. Ever again. Maybe someday he will realize how much you hurt him, but in my experience Mormons just are not geared to understand other peoples' pain. Nothing you can say will fix that. He needs to come to the understanding within himself.

slskipper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ... how much you hurt him ...

Don't you mean, "How much he hurt you" instead?

Kill him with kindness.

I’d ignore it. Continue to write your grandson and Express your love for him. Eventually, even a self=righteous 18 year old will understand he’s being a jerk. I should know, I was once an 18 year-old convert jerk. Hugs, The Boner.

I advise being direct. Tell him that you never expected that he would send such an insulting message to you. Next time he wants to send an insulting message to you, he should just delete it rather than hit the send button, if he wants to continue to have a relationship with you.

Don't cut him any slack for being a missionary. What you tolerate, you encourage. I would be beyond angry. How dare he write that to you. I would also demand an apology.

I agree. He's a missionary, which means he's an adult. Time to start acting like one.

Dear Grandson,

I am saddened to see the arrogance and nastiness come out of the grandson I once knew. You have just become the perfect example of why people don't like Mormon missionaries - they are pretentious in thinking they know more than everyone else, and cruel in their behavior thinking they are better than anyone else. Your behavior is the complete opposite of righteousness, and it fails any test of being Christian.

If this is the person you have become, and how you wish to treat me, expect no more responses from me. I will not tolerate being treated so poorly. I will mourn the loss of my grandson and treasure the fond memories when he was a good, caring person.

this ^

kestrafinn (not logged in) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree. He's a missionary, which means he's an
> adult. Time to start acting like one.
>
> Dear Grandson,
>
> I am saddened to see the arrogance and nastiness
> come out of the grandson I once knew. You have
> just become the perfect example of why people
> don't like Mormon missionaries - they are
> pretentious in thinking they know more than
> everyone else, and cruel in their behavior
> thinking they are better than anyone else. Your
> behavior is the complete opposite of
> righteousness, and it fails any test of being
> Christian.
>
> If this is the person you have become, and how you
> wish to treat me, expect no more responses from
> me. I will not tolerate being treated so poorly. I
> will mourn the loss of my grandson and treasure
> the fond memories when he was a good, caring
> person.



Wow! I really like that.


If you want to keep it light, I really like:


messygoop Wrote:
----------------------------------------------------

Send him a postcard of Disneyland.

"Wish you were here."

Send him a postcard of Disneyland.

"Wish you were here."

Bwahahahahaha!

I'd respond very directly.

"I'd have expected better from someone who is claiming to be a follower of Christ out spreading His word. What you sent is untruthful and unkind. Clean up your act or go home."

+ 10,000,000,000.007

Dear grandson,

A missionary would more righteous masturbating than hurting his grandpa.

Another suggestion:

"I see the fruits of your mission are that you've turned into a judgmental prick. How nice that must feel for you."

There isn't anything funny about it.

That anyone, nevermind a grandson would write that to someone is unconscionable.

I am speechless.

D&C 121:39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they, suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrightous dominion.

Yes! This is the best way to reply to the little snot. Use his own doctrine against him. You could also try quoting the 11th Article of Faith.

"Oh wOw, got me!

Want to cut off my left nut every morning! (Right ones already gone from yer last lovenote)

So like - wots happenin' in Texas, got a bazillium baptisms eh wot?"



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/2018 10:20PM by zenjamin.

Or

"c'mon maaan, I know yoo. Can't fool me bro. Not a chance.

So -- ya feelin' a little self righteous really, -- or a leetle skeered because the baptisms

Just
Aren't
Happening

?

(Damn the internet!)

Of course - to respond at all, is to dignify it.

I know your grandson is just a kid, but that was so rude of him to send that to you. Mormonism teaches people to be rude.

I don’t have any advice... not a parent yet, but I think I’d feel genuinely sorry if my niece said something like that to me. Sorry at her lack of social skills. Sorry she had to serve a mission in the Google Ace. Sorry that whether she stays in or leaves there will be pain.

I think you’re entitled to feel however you want and go with your gut instinct as far as a reaction goes.

I’m really sad for both your sakes.

*Google Age

I've had my own issues with my TBM daughter and nowadays I'm just keeping my mouth shut. Some people are just clueless and mormons seem to be some of the worst. I want a relationship with my daughter, so I've had to learn to keep my mouth shut.

BUT my therapist says that if you want a close relationship with someone, you call them on their bad behavior--as I've been in a situation of arguing big time with my daughter for her lack of emotional intelligence. BUT I just can't anymore. I need her in my life obviously more than she needs me in her life.

Sometimes less is better.Something like, "Wow, I never thought something that mean would come from you".

After thinking about this for a while, I have to say I don't think I could stop myself from writing, "Listen you little pipsqueak. Look me up whenever you get off your arrogant, ignorant, judgmental, condescending high horse. You don't know what you don't know. I'll be so happy to see you when that happens."

I guess you could put a smiley face at the end and pretend it's humor.

I just think if you don't give it back to him, he is going to be sure he hit a bull's eye and what kind of relationship do you have then?

or,

"I know you were joking, sonny, but you really need to work on your humor if you ever want a future in comedy."

I guess you could simply say:

"No baptisms, eh? Please take it out on someone else.

Love, Grandpa.

P.S. We'll have some great times together in a few years when you leave the so-called church."

Tell him you were never "enlightened by the spirit of god."
You were duped into believing that you were, but you weren't.

So that doesn't apply to you.

Then perhaps remind him that people who love each other don't act like judgmental jerks to each other, and there are good reasons for that. :)

Remember, though, that the beginning of a mission is when these kids are super gung-ho, just having come out of training, convinced they're going to convert the world, and convinced they have the one and only "truth." If he's like most mishies, by the end of year #1 reality will have hit him, and he'll be more mellow.

Unfortunately he has almost completed his mission.

Oh, damn.
So maybe he's swallowed it hook, line, and sinker...
And didn't learn any humility or love on his mission.

So sorry. :(

Forward it to his mom/dad (your son/daughter) and ask what kind of son did they raise and are they proud of him. My guess your son/daughter is as big part of the problem as your Grand Son. They could do with a wake up call too.

I'd write back -

"At my age, becoming "more hardened" is a good thing. Just ask Grandma."

It really makes you wonder about what prompts the meanness, but I remember being embarrassed by a dirt bag zone leader at a lunch invitation (which was never extended again). He told the sister that her food was not quite as good as sister ____'s food.

Even though I and the other 2 elders apologized for the asshat's words, the damage was done. Oh, and the 3 of us had a small rumble later that day.

Jaxson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd write back -
>
> "At my age, becoming "more hardened" is a good
> thing. Just ask Grandma."

Yes!

Dear Grandson,
So, you say you want to be single and alone the rest of your life?

hardened is writing you out of the will...ooops!

Dear Gransson,

I understand the state of mind you are in right now. There was a missionary in my mission who was extremely devoted and emmersed in the dogma and the quest to proclaim it to the world. His father was either inactive or had no interest in the Church of JC of LDS. This guy, so many years ago, felt that if he was devoted and boldly called out his father and taught the things that they teach you using the techniques obtained in the MTC, then his Dad would come around and ‘hearken’ To the LDS message. Maybe that is a similar case as you addressing me with that passage from the BOM, as you put it. Let’s address this concern of yours as adults. What enlightenment or great knowledge of righteousness do you suppose that I have or had? What sin or transgression are you alleging I have fallen into? Lastly, what ‘state’ do you suppose I am now in? You have lived a philosophically sheltered life. We all did before we went on missions. You have been told you are the best that God has to offer on this world. You are running high on emotion as you do your day to day routine proclaiming the Word to the people around you. Do you stop to listen to the perspective of those around you? Do you know what I know? Do you want to know?

I can see the humor in what you were trying to say in your last email. Keep it in perspective that there is life post LDS emmersed mission experience. There are things you don’t know about your religion which will take you years to gain the courage for you to begin to explore. Just so you know, I’m here for you now, and I’ll be here for you if and when you care to face those realities.

Love you too.

Wow, this was spot on. Thanks