Thursday, August 27, 2009

Top Tidbits of Mormon Culture

Which is the most Mormon?

Ok I've seen this type of thing on the internet and email forwards before but I think that they are a lot of fun. The question is, of course, what cultural item would you identify as the most mormon? Here's a list of possibles to choose from:

Jello salad--seriously, can you think of an official mormon function that didn't have a Jello Salad? (ok, if you haven't lived in Utah or Idaho at some point in your life, this may not apply). Nothing like green jello with little bits of fruit inside!

Church basketball--lots of other churches sponsor teams from their congregations, but few actually host their own events (perhaps they've had some revelation that we haven't? Maybe this is one of those truths that exist outside of the church that we're are supposed to bring into the chruch). All I know that there is nothing like destroying brotherhood by inviting a bunch of wanna-be jocks to play ball!

"with every fiber of my being"--Let's put it this way, if you met someone anywhere in the world and heard them say, "I know it with every fiber of my being" would you have ANY doubt they were mormon? Nuff said.

White dress shirt--perhaps Utah just didn't have any natural dyes to work with when they settled the west, but can't they move into the 21st century? I know many a mormon male who own nothing but white dress shirts. Some may have 1 light blue shirt. But deep red? Black? Striped? Never! And here's a challenge--can anyone find a picture of a general authority wearing anything but a plain white dress shirt? I am almost willing to bet my boat you can't find one...

CTR rings worn by adults--I get the idea, but seriously do you know of any other adult population that wears kid jewelry? Grow up. Same thing for adults who pick "I am a Child of God" as they favorite song. Nice song and sentiment, but seriously have you not grown and matured just a little bit?

Delivering meals to the sick and afflicted--this is one of those not-specific-to-mormon things that we've been able to twist into something very mormon. I'm quite confident that a family could come down with a stomach virus disease that features lots of vomiting and the ward would still bring them a meal. A family could have a hole in their roof during the monsoon season and instead of helping to patch or cover the roof, the ward would probably bring in meals. Can't we find some other way to help others besides making a casserole???

Funeral potatoes--egad. I think that these things are the worst. And they are just everywhere. It's making me morose and suicidal, so I'm moving on.


J. Golden Kimball--seriously, does anyone know anything about this guy OTHER than the fact that he would throw in a few "damns" and "hells" and didn't mind throwing out an insult or two? This guy is so overrated.

Wedding receptions with basketball hoops in the background--ah yes, there is nothing quite like being able to "shoot your bouquet" instead of tossing it to your bridesmaids. I have never been inside another church or banquet hall that has basketball rims inside... Hell, we even put them up in our churches in countries where the natives don't play basketball!

Euphemisms for swear words (Hack, Fetch, Flip, Shiz, etc.)--I can't say that I don't do this, but this is another one of those things where if you hear a stranger saying "Give me the friggin' remote" you know the guy is mormon. It's just so obvious, shiz!

Food Storage--do you know of anybody else in your neighborhood (non-mormons) who are hoarding wheat, water, and other canned goods in their garage? If nobody else is doing it, it must be very momon...

Saturday’s Warrior--sadly, too many people's doctrinal understanding of the pre-mortal life and the purpose of this life is informed by this play/movie. Even if you have never seen it, one of your primary leaders or young women's leaders watched it and uses it as the framework of their understanding. It's not true folks!!!!!!

Cheerios in Sacrament meeting--next Sunday, you should stop by and visit another church and take a peak at their "chapel" just after they finish services. How many Cheerios do you think that you will find? Zero--just like a Cheerios...

Pyramid Schemes--I think that mormons are so drawn to pyramid schemes for two reasons. First, pyramids are prominent in Egypt and Nephi wrote using "reformed Egyptian" characters so... The second reason is that in order to be successful in pyramid schemes you have to have a list of people you can sell to and all mormons have the ward list--it's a match made in heaven?

I don't know if I can pick just one as the most mormon, but I can name my top three (in no particular order): "with every fiber of my being", Saturday's Warrior, and Euphemisms for swear words. What's yours?

3 comments:

  1. That's quite a list...I would have to say, Satuday's Warriors, Jello salad, and wedding receptions with basketball hoops in the background.

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  2. I just wanted to state for the record that you forgot about t-shirts under the tank top fashion.

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  3. What about Napolean D, or "sweet spirits", or how bout, "We sure do love ya"? This list is FREAKIN funny! I think I will throw a party including all of these things--now that would be awesome!!

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