BIC or Convert?

[I.J. Reilly]

Were you born in the covenant or did you convert to the church later in life? Perhaps you are more in the Uchtdorf mold where you were born but rather young when your parents converted. If you would feel comfortable in disclosing such information, I am curious about those that were converts how they came about their conversion. Missionairies? Friends? Relatives? Discover a copy of the BOM without a cover in the gutter?

Me- I'm a BIC all the way, although not by much. My parents were sealed 4 months before I was born. My parents are both converts and since my mom hadn't been a member for a year yet when my parents married they had a civil marriage months before the temple ceremony. My father comes by way of the RLDS, which I find interesting and my dad baptized my mom.

[Jeff Lebowski]

My father comes by way of the RLDS, which I find interesting and my dad baptized my mom.

That does sound interesting. You should tell us more some time.

[I.J. Reilly]

That does sound interesting. You should tell us more some time.

Actually, I was thinking about it last night and I realized how little I know about the whole thing. I do know that his family wasn't originally RLDS, that somewhere along the way (I think when my dad was about 7) that they converted. I have seen pictures of my dad getting baptized by his uncle when he was eight and I know that my dad was active RLDS until he was baptized as a member at 17.

I'm not sure how the family conversion to RLDS happened. I'm pretty sure that they were living somewhere between California and Colorado when it happened, which makes it even more interesting to me. They eventually moved to Missouri, for reasons that are unsure to me, but by the time that they had moved there I think they were on their way to inactivity (they made the move while my dad was serving his mission). I have an uncle who also became LDS and then the rest of the family is now in varying forms of religious state, weighted on the side of evangelical Mormon haters.

The religious history of my family is varied and interesting.

[TripletDaddy]

Convert, but I think most here already know that.

[I.J. Reilly]

Also, resident apostates please feel free to vote in the poll and comment. Just because you no longer associate with the church doesn't mean that at one time you weren't one of the above. I'm pretty sure that our resident apostates are both BIC but let me know if I'm wrong.

[SeattleUte]

That is interesting since RLDS is the picture of Mormonism's future: Female GA's and priesthood holders, gay marriages, doctrine acknowledging allegorical nature of the First Vision and the B of M, repudation of polygamy and priesthood ban nunc pro tunc. Eventually LDS always come around and get with the times. I have always thought RLDS is a good model for LDS.

[I.J. Reilly]

Convert, but I think most here already know that.

DDD, I think you've said this before but how did your conversion come about?

[SeattleUte]

Also, resident apostates please feel free to vote in the poll and comment. Just because you no longer associate with the church doesn't mean that at one time you weren't one of the above. I'm pretty sure that our resident apostates are both BIC but let me know if I'm wrong.

I was seventh generation Mormon on my mother's side. (Helen Andelin is a cousin twice removed.) On dad's side great grand dad immigrated from Netherlands to SLC after baptism.

[SeattleUte]

DDD, I think you've said this before but how did your conversion come about?

3D is living proof that the BYU sports program is a missionary tool.

[I.J. Reilly]

That is interesting since RLDS is the picture of Mormonism's future: Female GA's and priesthood holders, gay marriages, doctrine acknowledging allegorical nature of the First Vision and the B of M, repudation of polygamy and priesthood ban nunc pro tunc. Eventually LDS always come around and get with the times. I have always thought RLDS is a good model for LDS.

That is an interesting thought. I have never thought of the RLDS model as being where the church is headed but I can see what you are saying there.

I have gone to a couple of RLDS services in my day (pre CoC days) and they always seemed a bit off to me, but that may just be because I get that feeling from just about every other type of religious worship that I go to. It was interesting to see some aspects of evangelism mixed with the more staid parts of Mormonism.

[TripletDaddy]

DDD, I think you've said this before but how did your conversion come about?

story for another day.

Suffice to say, I was drawn to the Church's strong emphasis on family. I was also very lucky to have a circle of excellent LDS friends growing up, even in elementary school....kids that made it cool to do what is right but still have a great time.

[CardiacCoug]

That is interesting since RLDS is the picture of Mormonism's future: Female GA's and priesthood holders, gay marriages, doctrine acknowledging allegorical nature of the First Vision and the B of M, repudation of polygamy and priesthood ban nunc pro tunc. Eventually LDS always come around and get with the times. I have always thought RLDS is a good model for LDS.

Isn't it interesting, though, that the LDS Church is so much more successful than the RLDS Church as far as membership and finances?

There appear to be practical benefits associated with irrational fanaticism and gerontocracy.

[SeattleUte]

Isn't it interesting, though, that the LDS Church is so much more successful than the RLDS Church as far as membership and finances?

There appear to be practical benefits associated with irrational fanaticism and gerontocracy.

You see that demonstrated large scale in Europe. Their churches became more secular and have been practically annihilated. I think this is why you saw the Catholic Church take a hard right. MikeWaters has been prophesying against the pernicious evils of assimilation for years.

[I.J. Reilly]

story for another day.

Suffice to say, I was drawn to the Church's strong emphasis on family. I was also very lucky to have a circle of excellent LDS friends growing up, even in elementary school....kids that made it cool to do what is right but still have a great time.

Thanks for sharing what you did. I find friendshipping to be probably the most effective missionary tool. Not in the "let's go friendship that kid to get him to convert" type of way but in the more relaxed, "I'm just your friend, here's what I do and don't do" kinda way. It's a no pressure sitaution and produces more lifetime converts, imo.

[I.J. Reilly]

You see that demonstrated large scale in Europe. Their churches became more secular and have been practically annihilated. I think this is why you saw the Catholic Church take a hard right. MikeWaters has been prophesying against the pernicious evils of assimilation for years.

Is this the future of America? Is America merely Europe twenty years delayed?