Mormon Anyway

When you’re not a practicing, fully believing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it can be surprising to discover you’re still Mormon. People try to draw lines and create definitions to clarify who gets/wants to to claim membership – both believers protecting and non-believers departing. But it’s surprising to discover how much of being Mormon is heritage, culture, and history. Perhaps, the current prophet did us all a favor creating rigidity about using “LDS” and “Mormon” because, despite distance, animosity, faith crisis, and more, many discover that – despite it all – they’re Mormon anyway.

You might be Mormon Anyway if you:

Claim pioneer heritage who walked the plains Dressed up at least once for a “Road Show”Can define the difference between “steak” and “stake”Feel a little tinge of shame about shopping, playing sports, etc. on Sundays Spent the weekend watching old men in suits give talks while eating candy in your pjsWoke up before the sun to attend seminary (or were one of the less righteous who simply attended during the school day)Feel brave showing your shoulders in a tank topAre not shocked by the inclusion of pretzels in JelloBreak out the good sparkling cider every New Year’s EveSaw your first rated-R movie in collegePracticed being a missionary for a youth activityAttended a standards nightAttended a progressive dinner at church member’s homesWorn long pants in the scorching heat to camp Celebrated “Bishop’s Night” (men) at Girl’s CampKept a tithing jarHad church clothes and shoes and must dress up to attend services as an adultHave an incredible conversion storyHave an opinion on what a good Family Home Evening looks likeDon’t bat an eye when testimony meetings go off trackHeld a wedding reception in a venue with basketball hoopsTry to do genealogy, but it’s all been doneCould still find an EFY soundtrack somewhereKnow the moves to the YMCA and begin them anytime you hear the songWere shocked to learn most people go to church for one hourHave rooted for BYU, even if you didn’t go thereUse familiar terms and share memories that have to be explained outside of Mormonism

What would you add?