MovieChat Forums > Mobsters and Mormons (2005) Discussion > anybody else hate how...

anybody else hate how...

posted 18 years ago by Peacelove_isback
19 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone here but me hate how LDS people are portrayed as annoying, self righteous and judgemental in all of these LDS movies? They are so narrow minded in the way they portray Mormons.

I know that no ward could ever be so judgemental that they wouldn't sustain a bishop just because he had non member friends. Maybe 1 or 2 people would do that, but never half a ward.

I also think it's dumb how in these movies they act like people who drink caffeinated soda are sinners. ("Oh, some members of our church choose not to drink cola") Sure, lots of LDS people do choose that, but many non LDS people make the same choice. That choice has nothing to do with the religion. It is nowhere in our teachings that you can't drink coke. I know it is in the word of wisdom to be healthy but thats it. So they should have said they don't drink it because it was their personal choice not to. Like how athletes don't drink it because it affects their performance.

I liked this movie though, it was different then the others in the sense that it wasn't FULL of mormon inside jokes. And the way all the ladies were talking when they realized the house had ben sold, and the lady sending her daughter to go check was GREAT and SO true. The way she was so nosy...I think nearly every ward has someone like that.

But really...I just hate how members of our church are portayed into characters so highly unlikable. I honestly hated all charactes but the cheeseman family.

[–] purplecoke_13 18 years ago

I just have to say: wards like the fictional one in this movie do exist. I've been in more than one, (military hubby, we move a lot)... in fact I grew up in one right on the Wasatch Front. We had members of our ward whose kids were not allowed to play with us because we went camping on Sunday occasionally with our non-member friends and family and because we drank Mt. Dew and Coke.

Most people aren't as obvious/outspoken as the blond lady, but there is still a 'holier than thou' attitude within the members in Utah (well, more so than we've found in wards anywhere in the US). It comes from being in the majority and being able to be 'picky' about those you socialize with...I see it in the city where I live (predominantly Roman Catholic...they are that way to each other and to everyone else around) if you have ever lived somewhere where you are the minority (religion wise) you learn to judge people by the kind of person they are, not what church they go to on Sunday...

After we watched it, I actually commented to my hubby that I wondered how many members would say 'that lady was horrible'...and are actually just as bad as her...

Not making a judgement on you or anyone else, or any religions...just voicing my opinion.

Now I'm not making an overgeneralized blanket statement about the members in Utah...or outside of Utah...there are MANY good members of the church who are not like her (blond lady...sorry can't remember her name) at all.

[–] tlbauerle 18 years ago

I thought it was an awesome statement to make on film. This faced real problems in the church head on, and I think it is a step up from THE R.M. and THE HOME TEACHERS.

Not every member character was protrayed in a negative way. The problem isn't the portrayal, it's that those characters are examples of how real people act and how many people see that as a reflection of the entire church.

I would be more angry at the people who act that way, than a film that makes a characature out of it.

-Todd
www.toddlbauerle.com

[–] Peacelove_isback 18 years ago

My ward isn't really like that. We do have one woman who is constantly telling a couple different cancer survivors that they only got cancer as a punishment from God, but mainly it's just these young married couples, both getting degrees at the University of Utah....then they have a baby and move out of the ward. I know there are real wards like this, but it's annoying to me because mine isn't.

[–] tlbauerle 18 years ago

Cancer as punishment from God?! LOL....that's about as bad as telling a black person their countenance is lightening since they've accepted the Gospel.

-Todd
www.toddlbauerle.com

[–] desertedsoulx 18 years ago

uhh i live in Utah and i have to say this movie is really true about mormons. missionaries come by every sunday pretty much trying to convert you and when you used to be mormon and asked to be taken off the role they never take a hint and come knocking on your door acting like they care about you. and if you arent mormon, they completely outcast you. if someone in your family dies, they have to freaking announce it at there church so all of these people you dont know show up for a funeral that is JUST for family and they come by and act like they care. its a known fact that in Utah the mormon religion is rapidly declining and by 2010 only a manority of utah will be mormon, about 10%. they need to get a *beep* clue on how real life is, and that people are getting sick of the way they act, SING, and treat people that arent mormon. i have yelled at missionaries before because the same ones kept coming over. well, everyone i know that is mormon say they either don't like being mormon, and that they are forced to go to church cuz of their parents which i think is wrong. my friend hated so much being mormon it took so much out of his life and he mentioned in his suicide letter "thanks for helping me live this life of hell in your stupid home with your stupid religion practices and your stupid *beep* limits that make my life so limited i feel like i can't breath." or something like that. and he wasn't the type that swore becuase of course he wasnt allowed. well, have a nice day :). THE END.

STOP LOOKING AT ME SWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!!!!

[–] sendtothisone 18 years ago

Comedies are about exaggeration. They take something that is completely rediculous and give it enough truth to hit home. I think it is important to be able to laugh at yourself (I try to do it regularly), so as long as only SOME of these characters are awful, I'm okay with it. Also, desertedsoulx, I appologize for the bad examples you've come in contact with, and I hope you don't believe that all Mormon's everywhere are like that. I've certainly never met any.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jeffoneonone 18 years ago

True compassion is not plentiful among the church membership. In fact, I'll bet there is a lot less overall compassion among the church membership than in the vast majority of religions, including Islam.

[–] trunkyelder 18 years ago

"uhh i live in Utah and i have to say this movie is really true about mormons. missionaries come by every sunday pretty much trying to convert you and when you used to be mormon and asked to be taken off the role they never take a hint and come knocking on your door acting like they care about you."

It might be true from your scope, but doesn't represent the vast majority of the LDS church. I was an LDS missionary in Texas and sincerely and genuinly cared about every single person I met. They probably came around because a disorganized ward clerk didn't receive your information. If you want to be taken off of the records of the church, write a letter and sign it. If you have no interest in being part of the churh, take the initiative.

"and if you arent mormon, they completely outcast you. if someone in your family dies, they have to freaking announce it at there church so all of these people you dont know show up for a funeral that is JUST for family and they come by and act like they care."

Mention it's just for families and you'll be OK. Can't fault someone for at least trying to do good. How do you know the intents of their heart?

" its a known fact that in Utah the mormon religion is rapidly declining and by 2010 only a manority of utah will be mormon, about 10%."

Why is it declining? Because people are seeing the light? Hardly! It's because Utah is a thriving economy with many non-Mormons coming in. Hopefully, they will meet some great LDS neighbors and enjoy the truth of the resored Gospel. Fact is 85% of the LDS population lives OUTSIDE of Utah. It might be declining in Utah, but it is growing elsewhere!

" they need to get a *beep* clue on how real life is,"

How is real life supposed to be, educate me?

"well, everyone i know that is mormon say they either don't like being mormon, and that they are forced to go to church cuz of their parents which i think is wrong."

Maybe your friends are just malcontents? Every society has them.

" my friend hated so much being mormon it took so much out of his life and he mentioned in his suicide letter "thanks for helping me live this life of hell in your stupid home with your stupid religion practices and your stupid *beep* limits that make my life so limited i feel like i can't breath."

Sounds like he had deeper mental and personal issues. The restored Gospel is refreshing and actually helps you *breathe*. I came back to church when I was 23. I had matured, and life is so much better because of it. It's time to start taking some personal responsibility. If you don't like the missionaries or members of the church, go to them personally. Calmy explain your issues with them. You and only you are responsible for the way you feel. Life is too short to hold a grudge toward anyone. Are there screwed up people in Utah? Of course, just as there is any place and any area where a religion is prominent. "Don't use your anger as a crutch".

[–] jeffoneonone 18 years ago

"We do have one woman who is constantly telling a couple different cancer survivors that they only got cancer as a punishment from God."

You know, this could be the basis for the darkest LDS comedy yet. I've always dreamed of making an LDS movie with the same irreverent, rebellious, darkly-satirical streak as MASH (the film, not the TV series). Y'think Robert Altman would be interested?;P

[–] jeffoneonone 18 years ago

The stuff in the movie may be exaggerated, but in a lot of cases it's not far off. A more likely scenario is that the non-member people would simply be ignored. (P.S.: I am Mormon.)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Peacelove_isback 18 years ago

I HATE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LET THEIR KIDS PLAY WITH NON MEMBERS! (Isn't there a scripture something like "Judge lest ye be judged..." ?) The area I live in is really diverse, and there aren't a whole lot of Mormons, and I think the people who live here that are Mormon are just normal people. We aren't weird. Kids are allowed to play with non mormons. Religion isn't an issue. At my high school, there were only 120 people taking seminary. So if you were stupid enough to not befriend non members, you'd pretty much be a loner. And people who act like you can't drink soda becaue you are Mormon are idiots. Go read D&C 89 (I think that's where the word of wisdom is)

Religion isn't an issue at all in this area. If someone moves in to the neighborhood, we get to know them, and befriend them. We don't judge them. Judgemental people are stupid, and the people who are all "Oh I'm Mormon, oh Mormon's rock." and then have that holier than thou attitude are what turn people off from the church. That's one reason so many people hate our church is because of people just like the ones in these movies.

[–] heypixie 18 years ago

Goodness gracious!

Dwarling, at my high school there are only 4 kids in seminary, including me. We are a close bunch, but we all have our own friends and our own lives. I have a friend that would stay at my house a lot and she would go with us to church and seminary, and she was very comfortable there and felt like she had found something because we made more sense to her than any other churches she had gone to.

Don't some of you understand that there will be the arrogant people in each and every religion? My grandmother is Baptist and you wouldn't believe how she treats me sometimes. I hate staying with her because she forces me to go to her church and introduces me as her "Mormon granddaughter" which earns me a lot of hateful looks. I've never felt more uncomfortable than I have there. Also when I was in 7th grade, I was sent home crying from school after being made fun of in class by my Baptist teacher about being Mormon. Another teacher who was a friend of my grandmother called my grandmother and asked if she had heard anything about something happening to me at school... and guess why? Two Baptist teachers were saying awful things about me at lunch and she had overheard it. But do you hear me harp on and on about how judgemental and arrogant Baptists are? No. I take it as an experience and keep going. I understand that no religion has perfect members, and they all have members that are too big-headed for their taste.

That said, I know for a fact that 99% of the time when Mormons try to help you, they really mean well. In YW, our teachers tell us that if we see an inactive girl, to start up a conversation with her, ask her how she's doing, let her know that we are still thinking about her and care about her. Invite her to an upcoming church activity, and hope she comes. It's not a big deal. You don't have to be rude and 'scream' at the missionaries. How do you think they feel? If anything, you are showing how close-minded you are.

I have a lot of family in Utah that are also Mormon, and we've never had any problems with them. We drink sodas, watch R-rated movies, etc. They don't care. And here's a thought: why not look at the PERSON instead of what religion they belong to? There are arrogant and rude people in the world, no matter what religion they are. That's just life.

[–] pantyhoser1975 12 years ago

I'm LDS and I totally agree. When I see LDS people behaving that way, I want to shake them and set them straight. Sometimes, I have. Just so you know, not all LDS people are like that. Every group/culture/race/culture has their "idiots". Mormons are no exception.

[–] Navi2010 18 years ago

i completly agree in every LDS movie i watch they portray us as what think not what we are, and then if someone that is a non-member watchs the movie and had a previous interest in the church it's like a slap in the face because they're doing something completly different than what the church teaches.

[–] desertedsoulx 17 years ago

Well, we all know you're better then everyone else because you're mormon. :)

STOP LOOKING AT ME SWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!!!!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] desertedsoulx 16 years ago

I totally agree.

STOP LOOKING AT ME SWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!!!!