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	<title>Comments on: My Dealings With the Mormons, Part 7</title>
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	<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164</link>
	<description>ἐπὶ τῶν τραπεζῶν</description>
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		<title>By: Marshall</title>
		<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164&#038;cpage=1#comment-728</link>
		<dc:creator>Marshall</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:08:00 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description>It would be hard for me to put any faith into a belief that has changed and morphed over and over to fit into societies norms throughout the years.

Interesting series you have there J-Dawg.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It would be hard for me to put any faith into a belief that has changed and morphed over and over to fit into societies norms throughout the years.</p>
<p>Interesting series you have there J-Dawg.</p>
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		<title>By: Eric</title>
		<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164&#038;cpage=1#comment-727</link>
		<dc:creator>Eric</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 19:57:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onthetables.com/2007/12/31/my-dealings-with-the-mormons-part-7/#comment-727</guid>
		<description>Even though in modern times because of public pressure its&#039; been toned down, I think you should do an article on race and mormonism.  They taught up until somewhat recently that black people were a direct descendent of Cain, and that they would not be allowed higher ranking church positions.

While it&#039;s true they no longer teach this, it&#039;s been said they haven&#039;t said what they previously did teach was wrong, just removed those parts because of public pressure.

In my meager dealings with the Mormon faith I experienced a high level of niceness like you describe.  However it feels very put-on, and over the top to me.  Granted that could be me being very cynical, but I just vibe.  The whole &quot;If it seems to good to be true&quot; vibe.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Even though in modern times because of public pressure its&#8217; been toned down, I think you should do an article on race and mormonism.  They taught up until somewhat recently that black people were a direct descendent of Cain, and that they would not be allowed higher ranking church positions.</p>
<p>While it&#8217;s true they no longer teach this, it&#8217;s been said they haven&#8217;t said what they previously did teach was wrong, just removed those parts because of public pressure.</p>
<p>In my meager dealings with the Mormon faith I experienced a high level of niceness like you describe.  However it feels very put-on, and over the top to me.  Granted that could be me being very cynical, but I just vibe.  The whole &#8220;If it seems to good to be true&#8221; vibe.</p>
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		<title>By: Jeff</title>
		<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164&#038;cpage=1#comment-729</link>
		<dc:creator>Jeff</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:17:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onthetables.com/2007/12/31/my-dealings-with-the-mormons-part-7/#comment-729</guid>
		<description>The Mormons are known for having a huge emphasis on both families and missions.  Thus, their religion is far from being entirely white.  Granted, it is an American religion, starting here in the early 19th century, so there were particular ideals of that day (exclusion of African Americans, for one).  As it became highly unfashionable to be racist, the prophet had a revelation that they could now be accepted in the church, thus fueling a greater population.

Every upstanding member of the church serves a mission in some other region of the world, many placed in extremely foreign parts.  As a result, there is a huge ethnic diversity in the church, but Salt Lake City still remains where it always has been, so most of the Mormons there are white.

And as far as the friendliness is concerned, this is again part of their doctrine.  Their emphasis on families extends beyond the large number of children they are known for.  They believe you can find your ancestors and seal them as well.  The weekly Family Home Evenings force a wholesome bond between members of the family.  Combined with the fact that they don&#039;t swear and don&#039;t drink basically anything with flavor (caffeine, hot drinks, alcohol), they are a generally happy and trustworthy people.  Everybody has problems, but I&#039;m impressed at how pleasant they are as a whole.  This happiness is probably the number one reason why people are drawn to it.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Mormons are known for having a huge emphasis on both families and missions.  Thus, their religion is far from being entirely white.  Granted, it is an American religion, starting here in the early 19th century, so there were particular ideals of that day (exclusion of African Americans, for one).  As it became highly unfashionable to be racist, the prophet had a revelation that they could now be accepted in the church, thus fueling a greater population.</p>
<p>Every upstanding member of the church serves a mission in some other region of the world, many placed in extremely foreign parts.  As a result, there is a huge ethnic diversity in the church, but Salt Lake City still remains where it always has been, so most of the Mormons there are white.</p>
<p>And as far as the friendliness is concerned, this is again part of their doctrine.  Their emphasis on families extends beyond the large number of children they are known for.  They believe you can find your ancestors and seal them as well.  The weekly Family Home Evenings force a wholesome bond between members of the family.  Combined with the fact that they don&#8217;t swear and don&#8217;t drink basically anything with flavor (caffeine, hot drinks, alcohol), they are a generally happy and trustworthy people.  Everybody has problems, but I&#8217;m impressed at how pleasant they are as a whole.  This happiness is probably the number one reason why people are drawn to it.</p>
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		<title>By: madmonq</title>
		<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164&#038;cpage=1#comment-731</link>
		<dc:creator>madmonq</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:46:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onthetables.com/2007/12/31/my-dealings-with-the-mormons-part-7/#comment-731</guid>
		<description>I&#039;ve met enough childhood-raised mormons to believe they do have a tendency toward friendliness and cleanliness.  But their home lives can be just as disfunctional and chaotic as anyone else&#039;s. They&#039;ll do their best to hide it.  Creepily submerged beneath a placid surface.  This is socially enforced on every level.  I&#039;m not sure I&#039;d want to gain friendliness from that sort of manic control.

Good story.  Thanks.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;ve met enough childhood-raised mormons to believe they do have a tendency toward friendliness and cleanliness.  But their home lives can be just as disfunctional and chaotic as anyone else&#8217;s. They&#8217;ll do their best to hide it.  Creepily submerged beneath a placid surface.  This is socially enforced on every level.  I&#8217;m not sure I&#8217;d want to gain friendliness from that sort of manic control.</p>
<p>Good story.  Thanks.</p>
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		<title>By: nearlynormalized</title>
		<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164&#038;cpage=1#comment-730</link>
		<dc:creator>nearlynormalized</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:22:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onthetables.com/2007/12/31/my-dealings-with-the-mormons-part-7/#comment-730</guid>
		<description>Clean city, big wide streets okay.  If you do further research can you tell me if one can convert to Mormonism and if one does convert do we get to have great smiles, white teeth?  You said you were of Aisian ethninticity (did I spell that correctly, no spell check here) are there any Aisians in the heiarchy of the church?  It seems to be a pretty vanilla looling cult. Did you get to travel and get to the poly communities?  That is a strange feeling if you get to visit.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Clean city, big wide streets okay.  If you do further research can you tell me if one can convert to Mormonism and if one does convert do we get to have great smiles, white teeth?  You said you were of Aisian ethninticity (did I spell that correctly, no spell check here) are there any Aisians in the heiarchy of the church?  It seems to be a pretty vanilla looling cult. Did you get to travel and get to the poly communities?  That is a strange feeling if you get to visit.</p>
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		<title>By: ama49</title>
		<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164&#038;cpage=1#comment-734</link>
		<dc:creator>ama49</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:07:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onthetables.com/2007/12/31/my-dealings-with-the-mormons-part-7/#comment-734</guid>
		<description>I&#039;m sorry.  I forgot to leave my blog&#039;s site.  It is: ama49.wordpress.com.

Feel free to visit and read about why I believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m sorry.  I forgot to leave my blog&#8217;s site.  It is: ama49.wordpress.com.</p>
<p>Feel free to visit and read about why I believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: ama49</title>
		<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164&#038;cpage=1#comment-733</link>
		<dc:creator>ama49</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:54:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onthetables.com/2007/12/31/my-dealings-with-the-mormons-part-7/#comment-733</guid>
		<description>I appreciate your objective views of the Mormon religion.  I&#039;ve been on both sides of it in my life so I understand both being a Mormon and being outside the Mormon faith.  Perhaps some of what I will write on my blog can help you realize as you state &quot;the happiness and goodness&quot; that comes from those of us in the Mormon faith.  Feel free to ask me any questions.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I appreciate your objective views of the Mormon religion.  I&#8217;ve been on both sides of it in my life so I understand both being a Mormon and being outside the Mormon faith.  Perhaps some of what I will write on my blog can help you realize as you state &#8220;the happiness and goodness&#8221; that comes from those of us in the Mormon faith.  Feel free to ask me any questions.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: My Dealings With the Mormons, Part 6 &#171; On the Tables</title>
		<link>http://onthetables.com/?p=164&#038;cpage=1#comment-732</link>
		<dc:creator>My Dealings With the Mormons, Part 6 &#171; On the Tables</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:45:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://onthetables.com/2007/12/31/my-dealings-with-the-mormons-part-7/#comment-732</guid>
		<description>[...] Continue reading here.  [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[...] Continue reading here.  [...]</p>
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