A few days ago, I was leaving my local library when I was met with a set of missionaries. One greeted me with a polite head nod. I no longer attend church, but was curious enough to let them speak to me if they chose. As I approached, the one elder smiled and said, "Hello. Can I give you this card? It has our website on it. You can use to look up information about our church."

Some of you may have seen these things already, but I was handed a small card with the full church name on one side, and a picture of a smiling family on the other with a caption that read something like "How can I be happy in my marriage?" and the church website written below. I recognized the card since I've found a few lying on the ground when I walk home from work.

The mishie went on to say that they are "representatives of the church of jesus christ of..." when I interrupted to say, "Yes, I am too." They asked what ward I was in and I said I didn't know since I hadn't been in church in awhile. The other mishie joked and said "Why, are you're too busy?" I said I was taking a break.

At this point, I wish I had been brave enough to say the real reason. I wish I had said, "No, I have not been busy. I made a decision 8 years ago to stop attending the mormon church because I'm gay. The challenge of being both gay and mormon was too painful and for most of my 20's I thought it would be easier to die than to reveal my secret. I attended 3 years of therapy with a mormon counselor, only to discover that there is no actual change from gay to straight. I am much happier now that the church is not attempting to control my thoughts and my actions."

Instead, I changed the subject and asked them the tradition questions one asks the mishies. "How long have you been here in the city?; Where are you from? (both from Utah); Have you been to this part of the world before?; etc, etc". After a moment I left, knowing full well that they were gathering the courage to ask me about attending church again. I kicked myself afterwards for not speaking up. I now hope I have another opportunity to present them with the gay issue, since I'm interested in hearing their response to something like that.

In their defense, both missionaries were polite and friendly. It really made me think about my own time on my mission and how much I've changed over the years. I was also really interested in how they immediately pointed out the church website. I suppose this is a new method of tracting? Trying to connect with the "young folks?"

I can remember very well the first few times I said "I'm gay" to a TBM or to strangers. It wasn't easy. I was so worried about what they'd think.

Now, I wouldn't think twice about saying it, as long as it's meaningful to the conversation.

After you've "come out" a few more times to TBMs, it'll be a lot easier. So maybe you should call the missionaries back and tell them.

The best hook they can put on the card is

How can I be happy in my marriage??????

They think they have the answer?????

Next time ask them if that applies to gay marriages too?

That should get the conversation rolling! hahahahah

How to be happy in Marriage? For men, marry a woman who is willing to wear sexy silky underwear.

For women, don't be married to a douchebag who will treat you as a sub-human.

The Mormon church excludes both possibilities.

When I was a missionary over twenty years ago, if questions arose regarding homosexuality, we were instructed to say "I don't have any authority to answer questions on that subject" or something to that effect. Is that still the case?

"Next time ask them if that applies to gay marriages too?"

+1

Haha! That would have succinctly gotten your point across!

I have been afraid to speak out on this in the past too, but now I think I'd be more than ready to tell the mishies how hot it was to fool around with my companion when I was their age ;-)

I can't be the only person who was a little disappointed with the ending to the OP story, after billing it as a "gay missionary encounter" and then introducing the card with the website on it. I hoped the website would be to some gay missionary sex site or something haha. Come on, I'm not gay but I'll bet there are plenty of gay men out there who like the thought of a threesome with Mormon missionaries.

No?

There IS a site like that! Google the terms "mormon" and "boyz" (NSFW!!!)

LOL I'll take your word for it thanks :)

I googled it.

Rule 34 of the Internet: If it exists, there is porn of it.

freeman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can't be the only person who was a little
> disappointed with the ending to the OP story,
> after billing it as a "gay missionary encounter"
> and then introducing the card with the website on
> it. I hoped the website would be to some gay
> missionary sex site or something haha. Come on,
> I'm not gay but I'll bet there are plenty of gay
> men out there who like the thought of a threesome
> with Mormon missionaries.
>
> No?
======================================================
Not everyone is into multiple partners or polygamy!
Most just want to be able to live like other folks.

oops ::carry on:: now where is that Mormonboyz site again?? :)

Yes...on second thought the title may have been misleading. LOL

We all lived in fear of outing any in the family--including my ex while he was living with his partner. The girl who babysat for us for years is the one who figured it out as her best friend lived next door to my ex and his partner. Up until then, nobody in our ward knew.

Then one day my 13 or 14 year old daughter said, 'Oh, all my friends know." That gave us "license" to come out.

EVERYONE knows now. It is SO MUCH EASIER even as his ex to be OUT.

I just thought it was interesting that it was our daughter who first took that step--oh, and now she is a TBM . . . but she also gets a kick out of her family dynamic. It makes her unique in the LDS church.

And I would also love to have heard what they had to say if you had told them you are gay. If you do eventually get a chance to tell them, please return and report.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/2011 10:15AM by cl2.

how are you doing