Ditto the "nice people" observation. You could do alot worse than have Mormons for neighbors. Anyone who gives up BOTH booze and caffine must be pretty committed. Sad really...

Of course there's that joke about inviting a second Mormon to keep your Mormon buddy from drinking all your beer :)

The fatal flaw of LDS, and with most organized religions, is that they believe they are the "one true church", thus the genealogical DB to *save* everyone with their bapstism for the dead routine. That and that modern science has pretty much disproven that the American Indians are decendents of Israel. Now where did I leave my seeing glasses...;)

I grew up near Hill Commorah near Palmyra NEw York where the LDS movement started. I have been to their annual pageant twice and it is worth seeing. However, even after reading the book of Mormon, and admitting that their family values are something to be respected, I find it difficult to believe in an individual finding gold tablets, being the only individual able to read them, and they are no longer to be found. At their pageants it is interesting to see the number of young folks out doing their missionary work. I watched three of them, two attractive young ladies and a young lad approach a couple of religious from another faith and say "Now that you know the truth...."

I agree with the "one true church" misconception, but that does not belong solely to the Mormons. At least if you refuse to join, the Mormons do not declare a Holy War and behead you!!

variaton on Atkinsons standup routine
 

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but this one cracks me up the most
 

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"Mormon underwear" is actually temple garments. It's worn by the most righteous of members who have been to the temple.

The unfortunate thing about the polygamy rap is that only 5% of the LDS men at that time (late 1800's) had more than one wife. It was due to the fact that Mormons were being killed by mobs and driven from their homes in New York, Missouri and elsewhere and there was a disroportionate number of women to men.

It was also a calling. Meaning you couldn't just join and get yourself a couple of extra wives.

LDS my whole life. +1 on what was said about returned missionaries. It's a hard two years that changes most everyone (for good or bad - mostly good).

There are many creepy people in every religeon. No faith has a monopoly on weird. It's best to examine the teachings rather than the membership.

Mormons will put the message out there for your consideration and then leave you alone if you don't want to learn more. There wont be a jihad if you don't join.

I recruited a number of LDS guys over the years. It's always dangerous to generalize - but these guys were all bright, extremely hardworking and unfailingly polite. (Much of this, I think, had to do with the fact that they didn't drink - when many people in my business were serious pi$$-tanks.)

In fact they developed such a good reputation in our organization, that whenever we came across a Resume that indicated the applicant might be a Mormon - we moved it to the top of the pile.

That said, there was something spooky and otherworldly about them when you tried to get close to them. Like they were from another planet. Their beliefs were so patently absurd that I always found it difficult to take them seriously on a certain level. An evening with them around the table was often like a bad episode of Twin Peaks.

I went to the Mormon church as a child, they had a full basketball court in the middle of the church. They had a lot of activities for kids & I really enjoyed it. As time went on I started to feel the pressure to prepare for the mission. I started to get constantly asked if I was saving for my mission. When I realized that they wanted me to save $20K to knock on doors for 2 years I stopped attending.