When the Mormans come a'knockin'

kiwideus · Jun 5, 2005

Mormons don't bother me at all, they have always been nice and respectful of my wishes.

However, it is the Jehovahs witnesses that bother me, even when i tlel them I am not interested, they keep coming for more. A friend of mine, when he got tired of the JW's, he took off his clothes and opened the door naked. They never came back. I wonder why.

But I would never do that, thats not me!

Simply tell the mormons that no, you are not interested, and they should respect your wishes, they always have respected mine.

sooz123 · Jun 5, 2005

I personally have a real problem with any religion that either encourages or requires this activity, which has become a menace as is evidenced in that it's mocked by just about every comedian that ever lived. I'm sure the religion justifies it adequately, and I'm sure the people are dedicated and kind, but please PLEASE let me be!

Whenever I see people walking around the neighborhood with pamplets in their hand and shortly after get a ring at the door, I don't open it. Sometimes they sneak up on you though and it's hard not to open it because many times it's just a neighborhood kid with a school fundraiser and I'd like to support them. Often times on ebay you can find engraved name plates really cheap, like for your office/desk, so we've been giving serious thought to having one made up that says "NO SOLICITORS, except for neighbor's kids". Do religious folks have to abide by those signs as well? Well, in any case, I'm sure it will help cut back on our unwanted visitors.

rosehawke · Jun 5, 2005

I respectfully submit that sometimes the Mormons will NOT leave you alone. Just try leaving the church, it's worse than the Mafia! DH was brought up in the Morman church, and the best I can figure stopped having anything to do with it at about the age of 12. We would still get the kids coming by, and he finally told them to take him off the rolls. He wrote to them, I believe, and we didn't hear from them for years. Meanwhile, 4 years ago we moved into this house (which was his parent's) and then I have them coming by again?!?! "To check on members of the church we haven't heard from in some time..." I told them he wasn't a member, and hadn't been for a while, so they asked how long? Oh, about 20 years! They told me he needed to write a letter to their bishop and I returned that he'd done that --- about 15 years ago! I'm sure a new pair will be back, and I'll have to go through the whole thing again.

pandybear · Jun 5, 2005

Originally Posted by RoseHawke

I respectfully submit that sometimes the Mormons will NOT leave you alone. Just try leaving the church, it's worse than the Mafia! DH was brought up in the Morman church, and the best I can figure stopped having anything to do with it at about the age of 12. We would still get the kids coming by, and he finally told them to take him off the rolls. He wrote to them, I believe, and we didn't hear from them for years. Meanwhile, 4 years ago we moved into this house (which was his parent's) and then I have them coming by again?!?! "To check on members of the church we haven't heard from in some time..." I told them he wasn't a member, and hadn't been for a while, so they asked how long? Oh, about 20 years! They told me he needed to write a letter to their bishop and I returned that he'd done that --- about 15 years ago! I'm sure a new pair will be back, and I'll have to go through the whole thing again.

oh dear! i didn't realise they kept in contact with past members

They are persistent aren't they, i guess we have to give them credit for that at least

goodluck for next time!

love,

felicia

ravyn · Jun 5, 2005

I'm LDS. I asked my own missionaries (we have them over often for dinner) about the No Soliciters sign. Apparently, solicitations are only for those asking for money or donations in some way. Since the missionaries ask for neither, they are not soliciting.

Just be polite and upfront, and they will respect your wishes (or should. If they don't contact the mission leader if you can find out who it is).

Slavery? I really have to protest the usage of that word. They are not forced to do this. They volunteer. It's a very important part of most young men and women's life in the church. They look forward to it from childhood. They can ask to leave the mission at any time. They save up and study stringently preparing for it, and they get extremely excited about having the opportunity to be called to serve a mission. They get a chance to serve in other countries, learn different languages and cultures, do service and charity work, and in general have an amazing educational and growth experience. Calling it slavery is liking calling the Peace Corps slavery.

vespacat · Jun 5, 2005

Originally Posted by Ravyn

Slavery? I really have to protest the usage of that word. They are not forced to do this. They volunteer. It's a very important part of most young men and women's life in the church. They look forward to it from childhood. They can ask to leave the mission at any time. They save up and study stringently preparing for it, and they get extremely excited about having the opportunity to be called to serve a mission. They get a chance to serve in other countries, learn different languages and cultures, do service and charity work, and in general have an amazing educational and growth experience. Calling it slavery is liking calling the Peace Corps slavery.

Yeah, it was very innappropriate for Leonard to liken it to slavery, though I'm not surprised.

However, as I mentioned earlier, growing up in Southern Alberta, many of my friends were Mormon/LDS and when it came time to go on their missions, some flat out refused, some were excited and looking forward to it (especially when travel outside North America was involved), and others were PRESSURED by their families into going. So, you can't really paint the whole experience with the same brush, and view the experience through rose tinted glasses. The fact is each person experiences their mission and/or the church differently.

I don't like the fact that from the moment young men and women return from their missions, that marriage and children becomes an all too real pressure, when they are barely into adulthood themselves!

And I really didn't appreciate the proselytizing. It completely turned me off of Christianity.

sooz123 · Jun 5, 2005

Ravyn said:
I'm LDS. I asked my own missionaries (we have them over often for dinner) about the No Soliciters sign. Apparently, solicitations are only for those asking for money or donations in some way. Since the missionaries ask for neither, they are not soliciting. [\\QUOTE]

It's not a huge problem here. Salespeople are... a few months ago we were visited by the same pair twice in one week. And if you open the door for them, it takes at least ten minutes to get rid of them no matter how nice you are!

If the frequency picks up I wonder if in addition a "no religious groups" sign would be effective.

catlover7731 · Jun 5, 2005

I had to reply to this one, because we get these people knocking at my door and it gets me upset because I feel if you aren't supposed to be at my home don't knock. I am an atheist and have had a sign up(but it was torn down

) that said To Whom IT May Concern: Friends and Family are welcome here so is the mail person and of course the pizza delivery women. Religous persons and solicitors are not. We respect your beliefs so please respect ours.
The sign was torn down twice so I have not put it up again. I may do a new one soon. I think it is rude to knock on someone's door if you don't know their religious affiliation. I would not go knocking on someone's door telling them about something they may not believe in I think I , as a human being deserve the same respect.
Someone once told me he got real tired of these people so one day he invited them in to talk( I don't think they were mormons but some other group) he went into the bedroom took off all his clothes except underwear and came in with a statue of a dragon.

Those people ran out of there and he was never bothered again..

Every time I think of that I burst out laughing.
Good luck with your decision.

rosehawke · Jun 5, 2005

Originally Posted by vespacat

...
I don't like the fact that from the moment young men and women return from their missions, that marriage and children becomes an all too real pressure, when they are barely into adulthood themselves!

And I really didn't appreciate the proselytizing. It completely turned me off of Christianity.

Yup. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. We're also Pagans.

gemlady · Jun 5, 2005

A Jehovah caught my mom on one of her rare mid-week days off and the lady had to be rescued by her associates because mom almost had her switching to Baptist! Her dad was a minister (as was her maternal grandfather and a great-great grandfather and several cousins) and came up with rebuttals for everything the lady said.

Best laugh mom ever had.

Anyway, I say "I'm busy". Have been tempted to name a cat Satan and call him as they are at the door...

hissy · Jun 5, 2005

They are devout, hardworking and earnest young men and women who truly believe their way is the only way into heaven. They are not unlike other religions- including Christians where they go and talk to people on the streets and hand out tracts about the 4 Spiritual Laws. I am always amazed at the lack of religious tolerance most folks have. I know plenty of mormons, as my husband was one a long time ago. But during his divorce, the church "wronged him" in many aspects including the unsealing of his children to him in the temple, and the transfer of the sealing to another individual. I do not, and I will admit, understand all that this event means, but it was highly significant for Mike to the point that he walked away from the church and has never looked back.

But from time to time the Bishop decides to try again and sends out young folk to lead Mike back into the fellowship and to see if I might also be interested to join as well. I am not- for many reasons but mostly because for me it isn't about the religion, and the going to church and meeting with folk, singing slightly off key praises and having my butt go numb from sitting on hard pews- but it is about a Relationship with God, with the universe with the Earth Mother- with WHOEVER you believe it. Because along with beliefs and faith come values, and the attempt to try and walk the right path, to do no harm to others. Now if these folk were serial killers, I would dump them over on their bicycles, but they are just truly vibrant youth, alive with the knowledge that they are given and trying to save the world-

slitty_kittay · Jun 5, 2005

My dad got really angry once when some jehovas were out doorknocking in summer, wheeling around an old lady in a wheel chair in the afternoon - it was a really warm day and she looked a bit dazed. She had too heavy clothing on but no hat or anything.

I dont know if dragging her along was supposed to be a way of *getting in the door* of places but it just made us angry towards them. I know not all people are like that but fanatics are the main ones we encounter and they ruin it for others.

I have very nearly called the police another time when I was at my parents house. They live in the country, on a quiet road with a half mile driveway - safe from religious door callers you would think.

One day I was alone there making breakfast early on a weekend morning. I was not expecting any visitors when some strangers walked around the front window and scared the daylights out of me! I was half dressed, cooking eggs in my underwear(as you have a right to do when you live in the country!) when 3 strangers suddenly appear staring in the kitchen window!!

I didnt get an apology either - just some laughter and a comment about how "oh yes, young people like to sleep in dont they!" It was only 9:15...

Dan and I dont get many knockers here at the apartment since the time we opened the door on a pair of Jehova men in our dressing robes at 2 in the afternoon. We are normally pretty respectable - on the outside anyway!!

However I had been away for quite a while and we were enjoying a sleep-in and then we had a late breakfast - From the doorway you could see dishes everywhere, empty condom wrappers, takeaway boxes and bottles on the floor from our partying the night before. To cap it all off we were watching vampire anime.

They never came back.

scamperfarms · Jun 5, 2005

I dont open my door to people i do not know. period.

alexa · Jun 5, 2005

Originally Posted by catlover7731

Someone once told me he got real tired of these people so one day he invited them in to talk( I don't think they were mormons but some other group) he went into the bedroom took off all his clothes except underwear

I had a similar experience. I'd been having visits from Jehovas Witnesses for several weeks - every Saturday morning at the same time. I'd tried politely that I was not interested in what they had to say, but they kept coming back. I'm one of the most tolerant people I know, but I really do draw the line at people trying to force their opinions on me.

Anyway, one week, some friends of mine were staying over and on Saturday morning there was the usual knock at the door. One of the guys who was staying over actually answered the door in his underpants

That was the last time I had a Saturday morning call from them

Rich's tactic is a bit different. He challenges religious callers to explain evolution and asks them questions about dinosaurs and stuff. It's quite funny to hear him - how he manages to keep a straight face, I don't know

kittylover4ever · Jun 5, 2005

Same goes for me. I don't open the door if I don't know you.

sooz123 · Jun 5, 2005

Originally Posted by hissy

They are devout, hardworking and earnest young men and women who truly believe their way is the only way into heaven. They are not unlike other religions- including Christians where they go and talk to people on the streets and hand out tracts about the 4 Spiritual Laws. I am always amazed at the lack of religious tolerance most folks have. -

In regards to this issue, I don't think it's religious intolerance at all. I have no problem with the people we pass on the way home every day holding Jesus signs, nor the people who picket our State Capitol building (which we also pass on the way home) with religious messages on a daily basis. I have absolutely no problem with those that talk to people on public streets as you've mentioned, provided I'm not followed down the street being preached at. They have just as much right to be there as I have. I think the general complaint here is that once the people are on your private property knocking on your front door, they've crossed the line. At least that's how I feel about it.

pamela · Jun 5, 2005

Originally Posted by sashacat421

Arlyn, thank you for this. I am trying not to take any offense as this thread was not meant in a negative way, I do know this. However, Mormon people are kind, giving, and also astute. The young missionary men who do knock on your doors are most always under the age of 21, and are just doing a job that has been blessed to them by the LDS Church. Being a missionary is incredibly rigorous. The missions are for 2 years; you are with the same partner day in and day out -you must learn to get along because you are never separated; you may not have any days off; you must continually educate and write about people you have met along the way and the experiences that have taught you about the human spirit. You may not have romantic relations in any form. You may not engage in any behavior that would distract from bettering yourself intellectually. You are not paid a dime. You cannot accept gifts, or tips, or anything of a material nature. You rarely see your families and don't return home for about two years. The point of the mission is to better the intellect and human spirit with sacrafice, teaching, and a lot of listening. Elizabeth

Elizabeth- THANK you for the WONDERFUL post about LDS missionaries!

I'll be upfront about this and say I am one of those LDS people and I went on a mission for 18 months (2 years for men and 1 1/2 years for women) and I have LEARNED SO MUCH during my mission. It changed who I was and my outlook on life. It was the TOUGHEST 1 1/2 years of my life but I would not miss one day of it. I still miss being a missionary and that was over 10 years ago!

As one of those former missionaries

I can say that we prefer people be honest with us and tell us that they are not interested and would like no further visits. LDS missionaries seek to share the gospel with others AND we also seek to SERVE others so some might ask about service needs.

Just say you are not interested. If you do not answer the door, the LDS missionaries probably will come back because we think you aren't home so if you really are NOT INTERESTED, just answer the door and tell the missionaries NICELY OR keep ignoring the door. After a few times of trying and no answers, we either think that the person has moved away, work odd hours or is not interested (sometimes missionaries can hear people inside so that helps us to figure that out sometimes).

I can't tell you how many times I have had door slammed into my face when I was a missionary... I definitely preferred having people tell me that they weren't interested nicely than just having doors slammed in my face.

I always made sure to write a note by their names that they were not interested and NOT to visit them again so we do try to respect people's wishes about not being visited.

Sometimes information gets lost or something so once in a while, missionaries will visit someone who has already expressed that they do not want further visits not knowing this. (That has happened to me once or twice and I felt so bad for the people. I tried to explain that I was not aware of this and that I'd make a note of it for future missionaries. I didn't want them feeling that we were being disrespectful so I made sure to write in red by their names that they were to be left alone.) I know many other missionaries do this also..

Hope this helps?

slitty_kittay · Jun 5, 2005

I dont mind what people believe in or what they do or say at home or in public places, but when strangers disrupt me in my own house and try to give me tips on how I should live, think and what I should believe in, its just a step too far.

starlie · Jun 5, 2005

I've had nothing but bad experiences with Mormans and Jehovah Witnesses. The first time they came, my cousin and I were in the backyard by the pool sunbathing and they came around the back, opened the GATE and walked up. Mind you, my cousin was laying out topless and they just kept walking up! She screamed at them to go away otherwise she'd call the cops for trespassing. They left and a few weeks later they came back and this time they parked their car in my cousin's garden. You can imagine how furious she was.

We kept telling them we're not interested and they keep sending different people! It was driving both of us nuts, so my dad had to put up a gate at the top of our drive way with a big sign that says "Private Property, Trespassers will be Prosecuted". You'd think that would give them a hint or two, but nope. They just stand at the top and yell down "Hello?! Is anyone home?! Hello?!". Soon we'll have to put a security guard at end of the driveway.

hopehacker · Jun 5, 2005

When I was really young, and had my first apartment, the Mormans came to my door. They were a family, mother, father and a couple of children. I told them, I wasn't interested, but they asked me if I would please be so kind as to let their children come in and use the bathroom. I didn't want to be rude, so I said yes, but I told them I had some things that were probably not exactly proper for children to see in my bathroom. You see, I had a few posters up in the bathroom, of the men from Playgirl, and I tried to explain, but they said it didn't matter, because their kids really had to go to the bathroom, quite badly. So, I went ahead and let them in. You should have seen their expressions when they left. I felt badly, and was truly embarrassed. After that I took those posters down, however the Mornans never came to my house again.

When the Mormans come a'knockin'

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