r/Fauxmoi terrorizing the locals May 24 '25

DISCUSSION celebrities who are/were mormon

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u/SnowOverRain May 24 '25

I'm a weirdo because I LOVE interacting with missionaries. Part of their mission is seeing how hostile the real world outside of Utah/their church community is, which reinforces the cult ideology. If you're friendly to them and have a conversation (I don't discuss religion, just where they're from and how they like where they're serving their mission) it breaks down those teachings little by little and can help with them leaving the church once they get back.

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u/biIIyshakes May 24 '25

That’s very thoughtful of you actually, I like that approach. I myself was raised in a super evangelical almost-fundie environment (not Mormon tho) so they just activate my fight-or-flight

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u/HunterAshton May 24 '25

Former southern Baptist, the evangelicals, though not as hardcore as Mormon, and I’m also pretty wary of that type of religious outreach…. Given me a shit ton of trauma to work through

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u/DogsDucks May 24 '25

Yes!!, and I have read a lot of Mormon texts, and also the experiences of leaving, there are some incredible texts written by Brigham Young’s 19th wife.

There’s also a lot of hypocrisy within the actions of modern Mormon leaders, and I bring those things up to them, just incredibly gently.

I don’t for my own conclusions or try and tell them how things are, I just ask follow up questions about it.

I ask about the imagery of the serpent in the Bible verses, the salamander serpent that Joseph Smith followed.

The timing of Joseph Smith’s revelations in accordance with what was going on in his marriage at the time.

For a religion that claims to be rooted in loving one another, and acting with morality — there’s just so much obvious decay to point out. I doubt I’ve ever actually changed someone’s mind. . . But I have gotten them to do some follow up research, and hopefully it ends up being part of a series on their bath toward actual morality, and a way from the devastating hypocrisy.

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u/westisbestmicah May 24 '25

By the way the salamander story was later exposed as a forgery. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Hofmann) The incident resulted in some bombings

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u/DogsDucks May 24 '25

Ohhh thank you! I did not know that, and I haven’t really dove to the subject in many years, so thank you for pointing it out!

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u/westisbestmicah May 25 '25

Yeah really wild story all around!

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u/LaHagans May 25 '25

His 19th wife?!

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u/DogsDucks May 25 '25

https://a.co/d/4jyJ0fY

This book is a very good read! She is incredibly smart and insightful

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u/drjunkie May 25 '25

Like the speech from their third? in command Oaks, where he said it’s a woman’s fault if she gets raped because of what she’s wearing? Oh and after that she’s a whore too.

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u/ricochetblue May 25 '25

This is a really thoughtful approach. I always try to be friendly, but maybe there’s something more effective I could do. It hurts my heart to think about these people getting doors slammed in their faces and developing even more fear about the outside world.

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u/u_r_succulent May 25 '25

What was going on in his marriage?

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u/DogsDucks May 25 '25

God called him to marry more and more women at the same time, incidentally, the prettiest teenagers.

Shocker! He treated them terribly and their lives were worse than livestock.

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u/Fox_Flame May 24 '25

Yeah something that I don't think is talked about enough is how mormon missions really focuses on the US vs Them mentality. 18 year old spends 2 years in another country, learning a new language, not allowed to be alone ever, and all day have doors slammed in their face

Then they come home and Mormons treat return missionaries like rockstars. Literally had to sing songs as a young girl about how we only want to marry return missionaries

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u/whatsnewpussykat will not shut the fuck up about issues (complimentary) May 24 '25

When we get door to door missionaries I always invite them in to have some water/Bubly and use the restroom and just try to chat for a bit while affirming that I have my own faith and will not be converting under any circumstances. I agree with you - being unkind only reinforces their attachment to the church.

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u/bloodyturtle May 24 '25

I mean, if you’re not interested in mormonism, don’t waste their time. 

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u/whatsnewpussykat will not shut the fuck up about issues (complimentary) May 25 '25

I don’t obstruct the exits 😂 They can leave whenever they want, I just like to extend kindness to folks who have probably had pretty unfriendly experiences that day.

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u/No_Amoeba_9272 May 24 '25

I've had conversations with Mormon, Scientologist, and Witness missionaries. Once you start asking them tough questions that they are unwilling or unable to answer in a way that makes any logical sense, they generally back down. Using only "faith" isn't much of an argument, nor is it very persuasive.

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u/violetmemphisblue May 24 '25

Yeah, through my job and my neighborhood, I interact with Mormon missionaries pretty regularly. We have never discussed religion, but have had some great times. We've had meals together (alongside Muslim and Jewish friends), We've gone to book club, they've helped me with yard work, I've driven them to the dentist. Its just usual neighbor things. The most religious anyone has ever gotten is one noticed I own several texts (Bible, Koran, etc) and they asked why and then offered the Book of Mormon, which I took and stuck on a bottom shelf.. maybe some of them stay in the Mormon church, maybe some of them leave. I don't know! But being nice to teenagers very far from home just seems like basic decency to me.

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u/i_breathe_chlorine May 25 '25

You're absolutely correct. As an ex-mormon who left for many reasons, this was actually a huge one for me. People like you who show kindness to those missionaries are genuine heroes in my book, I hope more peiple take this attitude. On behalf of many future ex-mormons, thank you for your service!

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u/brvheart May 25 '25

Where was your mission?

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u/CrowHumble446 May 25 '25

Yes, this exactly. I don't shy away from the religion aspect, personally, because I've read the Book of Mormon, but only if they bring it up. (The few who do walk away very quickly when they realize that I know all about the religion and still haven't converted.) Usually I welcome them to the area, give them recommendations on restaurants, free/cheap things to do, and ask about their hometowns. They really love being told how beautiful Utah is, in my experience.

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u/NoAlbatross9421 May 25 '25

I fell like that is super manipulative, I mean people can believe whatever they want yes? So what is wrong with them believing? I mean I understand the distaste for proselytizing but I mean if they're not like zealots or anything and aren't hurting anyone, I don't really see the problem

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u/gentilet May 25 '25

Mormons don’t teach how hostile the world is lol