Mormon Missionaries in Germany

18 comments

1. The Mormons are an odd lot and can be controversial but I’ve yet to meet a Mormon that I don’t like.

2. They believe that their founder Joe Smith was given golden tablets with the instructions to base their church on, but no one else ever saw these tablets or was allowed to see them, they just had to follow his word and do as he directed them to do.

   I hope this tidbit gives you a bit of insight on the church.

   That said, I have friends that are LDS and they are nice people. Id never go to church with them tho.

3. Mormon church is pretty niche in the U.S. except for in its home base state of Utah.
   Had Mitt Romney been successful in his presidential bid, profile of the church would have increased.
   I do not mean Mormonism would have become the state religion, but some people would converted in hopes of getting government contracts.

   “Now I’m wondering whether it is reasonable to attend a Mormon church just to meet new people and learn more about Christianity, without getting further involved?”

   I would very strongly caution against this.
   The whole reason missionaries are sent is to proselytize.
   Missionaries are young adults and may have limited knowledge of the texts of their faith.
   Their role is not to have discussions, it is to convert you to a tithe paying member.

4. They’re useful when doing genealogy research. They have extensive records available online (so that they can baptize their dead relatives or something like that which seems very weird to me, but they’re free to everyone so 🤷). The Mormons I’ve met have been nice, but I would never interact with them in a religious context.

5. There are some Southpark episodes with everything you need to know lol.

   But, yeah Mormons are nice people, and I’ve also noticed a ton of Mormon missionaries here. But it’s a little too cult-like for my taste. I see them posting on FB and try my best to avoid them.

6. “ Or is it an organization non-religious people should stay away from?”
   This.

7. [This](https://www.southpark.de/en/episodes/rl7pjr/south-park-all-about-mormons-season-7-ep-12?xrs) is Satire, but it gives a great insight into Mormons.

8. >I’m not religious myself but am open to having discussions about religion with anyone.

   I mean, Mormons are a bit the odd one out (a bit similar to the *Christengemeinschaft* in Germany) as they consider themselves christian, but AFAIK German Churches don’t consider them as properly Christian at all.

   Surely an a bit wilder ride one can have when it comes to Religious beliefs compared to, let’s say, your old boring Evangelische Kirche.

   Youtuber [Knowing better](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl8B55MqOQo&t=1496s) summed it up as “American exceptionalism made Religion”

9. On a religious level, the Mormons are what I would call “moderately deluded”. They’re not quite as far removed from reality as some more sect-like religions (and “religions” – looking at you, Scientology), but they’re not as reality-based as, for example, German Lutherans (if you discount the whole “believe in a supernatural being”).

   Until fairly recently the Mormons practised polygamy, and quite a few of their beliefs are pretty wacky: the whole golden tablets story, the “lost tribe”, the way the book of Mormon was constantly re-written to justify whatever their founder Joseph Smith wanted to do at that particular moment, they believe in marriage lasting beyond death, think that you can baptise the dead, their president is officially a “prophet” (on par with the Old Testament prophets) and has a direct line to their deity, and so on. Also, for many of their members, their faith plays a *really* major role in their daily life (to an extent which to a secular German seems downright creepy). They also *aggressive* proselytise – unlike many other faiths, they are *very* keen to get new members to join (to save their immortal souls or to fleece them for more money, depending on your perspective).

   I agree with the others that I’ve only ever met really “nice” Mormons – they seem to take a particular idea of “wholesomeness” to heart (although in rare cases it can come off as a *little* creepy). Still, I generally enjoy their company. However, I would never in a million years ever go near a Mormon church, as they see little distinction between one’s “private” and “church” life, which feels far too intrusive.

10. > They seem to be quite numerous here

    They are quite numerous everywhere. There are videos on youtube how they teach missionaries the language of they country they get send to, it’s amazing. It works on an “industrial” scale.

    > whether it is reasonable to attend a Mormon church just to meet new people and learn more about Christianity, without getting further involved?

    They will very much try to get you involved further.

    And they are the kind of organized religion where they’ll apply a lot of pressure on you as to how to behave. For German standards, it’s very close to a cult.

11. Try r/exmormon for further information and ressources about what they try to sell. Their FAQ is quite good.

12. >Is it a fairly “normal” church or is it more comparable to e.g. Jehova’s Witnesses, who hold some rather absurd views in my opinion?

    I think that on a “how far removed are they from mainstream Christianity in Germany” scale, both are fairly similar. Neither German mainstream Protestantism nor Catholicism feature people walking around explicitly trying to convert people who aren’t interested. (I occasionally tell this story, but my grandfather, who was a Protestant Reverend, once had two Jehova’s Witnesses trying to convert him – on a Sunday, on his way from the rectory to the church, holding his robe over his arm.)

    As for learning about Christianity, you’d be learning about a very specific tradition that’s a lot farther removed from mainstream Christianity here. In spite of the considerable difference between German Protestantism and Catholicism when it comes to issues such as women’s equality, homosexuality and so on, both are very similar to each other, compared to Mormonism with its own prophet, revelations, and so on.

    The thing with groups that are actively trying to convert people is that they tend to latch on. If you go to a random service or group meeting in a local Protestant or Catholic church, people might talk to you and welcome you, depending on the way that parish works (more in a smaller town/village, not so much in a big city). You’d be able to find contacts there if you wanted. But people there aren’t going to continue contacting you, putting you on a list of people to visit, and generally insist on converting you to anything unless you yourself make clear you’re interested. JW’s for one supposedly keep note of every visit at people’s doors. And even the slightest show of interest, accepting their literature etc., marks you down as a possible convert and ensures their return.

    Edit: In mainstream German Christianity, it’s also quite possible to regularly attend church activities without being a member, and without anyone being particularly interested in your beliefs. For instance, it’s not uncommon for agnostics/atheists/Christians of another denomination to sing in a church choir because they want to do higher-level choir music. Often the only choir in a smaller/mid-sized town that’s directed by a professional musician is the one of whatever is the predominant Christian denomination. And no one is really bothered with what an individual choir member’s religious stance is as long as they aren’t actively hostile.

    In proselytising religious, it’s a lot harder to do anything, even be friendly with members, without constant recruiting attempts.

13. Not a Mormon, but a staunch advocate of women’s rights and a survivor of spiritual abuse from another Christian spin off group in the US.

    My advice: look thoroughly into their record on women’s rights and child abuse. Not to mention homosexuality. I’m shocked no one has mentioned this yet, given I’ve seen and read a number of exposes and documentaries on the subject over the years. I thought this was common knowledge.

    Looking through r/exmormons should definitely shed light on whether or not you want to get involved (not).

14. As an American who had a best friend that was Mormon I can tell you it’s a borderline Kult based on the rants of a thieving sociopath named John smith. Best to avoid it . IMO

15. > I actually got in touch with someone for non-church related reasons and now I’ve been invited to attend their church to meet them. […] is it an organization non-religious people should stay away from?

    If you’re not religious, I don’t think you’ll enjoy yourself very much. If you already are religious and are happy in your religious community, just stay where you are.

    Either way, the Mormons are a prosylatising sect, meaning that they will do what they can to recruit you. It’s probably wise not to let them get a foot in the door. Churches are not appropriate venues for business meetings (unless the business is actually related to the church); if you’re being invited for a purely *social* meeting, it’s up to you, but if I were in your shoes I’d politely decline.

16. By all means go along if you want to learn about Mormonism (or at least the bits they’re happy to tell newcomers about), but you won’t learn anything about Christianity from them.

    Be aware that they are trying to convert you, they are extremely focussed on conversion (hence sending out nice young missionaries) to the extent that they convert the dead. It won’t be a social occasion.

17. It’s a cult. They’re very nice people, but it’s still a cult.
    They’re super creepy when you get past the first few layers, I recommend looking up some ex mormons on youtube.

18. Here in the states. Its not a normal church. They are a bit of an outlier. We commonly joke about just closing your door in their faces.