Mormon Misconceptions

One of my favorite things about being Mormon, and one of my least favorite things at the same time, are all of the crazy misconceptions that exist concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (yes, that is what the church is actually called, not mormon church) and it's members. I bring this up because this week at work I was blessed with THREE misconceptions about what I can and cannot do as a member of the church. Frankly, they were hilarious, and that is why I want to share them. :)

1. While waiting for a shift to start on Wednesday I sat in the backroom and chatted with some of my co-workers. We all were talking about who won things at the raffle that was held at the annual company picnic the previous day. One of the new hires at our store said the following, more or less:

"I was really hoping to win that portable DVD player at the raffle! My room is like totally old school Mormon style. No T.V., no radio, nothing electronic whatsoever."

I looked at her and asked, "Now, why does that have anything to do with Mormons?"

Her reply was something like, "Oh, well I am no sure but I don't think they can use electricity."

Very Interesting. I informed her that yes, in fact, we can. I just so happen to have a lovely little flat screen in my living room, a laptop, AND a DVD player. Just to name a few of the things in our home that use electricity. I ended by announcing to those co-workers who were my witnesses that "this is why missionaries have to knock on doors all day long, because so many people confuse us with the Amish."

It was super funny. I made sure she knew I wasn't upset and confessed that I too though Mormons were Amish before the missionaries started teaching me 5 years ago. ;) 

2. Today at work I was minding my own people, making some bomb burgers, of course, when one of my co-workers asked, "Madison, can you drink coke?"

I told her yes, I can drink soft drinks. She responded, "I know that, but can you have Coca-Cola products? I heard that because Pepsi is owned by Mormons you are only allowed to drink Pepsi products." 

I laughed out loud at this one. I didn't even know that Pepsi was owned by members of the church. So, if drinking Coke is against the doctrine of the church then no one informed me and they should probably address this scandal at General Conference. 

3. After the Pepsi question and my obvious laughter at the topic, my co-worker, who I love dearly despite her lack of knowledge on the topic, told me that she realllllly knows nothing about the church and that when she first moved to Arizona from the East Coast and saw biking missionaries she thought they were members of Best Buy's Geek Squad.

Today we had both sets of the Elders serving in our Branch over for dinner and we all laughed about the comments of my co-workers. One Elder said that every time they go grocery shopping on Preparation Day they are asked where certain items are located in the store. Oh, how I miss those days of going to Walmart and being constantly asked those kinds of questions. Can you not read the name tag? It does not says Walmart. It has a muuuuuuch longer name, and the name of the Savior. Unless there is a Walmart of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that I am not aware of I do not understand how missionaries are so often confused for Walmart associates. And I have to add that the missionaries dress much nicer than they do as well. 

In conclusion, if you suffer from ignorance or misinformation and think that the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint are Amish-computer-nerd-only-Coke-drinkers then please see http://mormon.org

Here's a video from the website just for funsies, and because I love these things. This one gets me teary-eyed every time I watch it.