No, Thank You! I'm Mormon

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblSCAjsCEiIluAS1rbtOWU7yvTlmdPxHOPaM297yw0kBz5OE0fmh_sbyY6HhGbKjH-2mxKIaexIsB6osbLGmkaV6Ftsag51iNlSv8_a5W0n_mVohYQiG660k9xhSYqd0gSvfQD8hLU5w/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblSCAjsCEiIluAS1rbtOWU7yvTlmdPxHOPaM297yw0kBz5OE0fmh_sbyY6HhGbKjH-2mxKIaexIsB6osbLGmkaV6Ftsag51iNlSv8_a5W0n_mVohYQiG660k9xhSYqd0gSvfQD8hLU5w/s400/1.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1958 "Be Honest With Yourself" LDS advertisement.</td></tr></tbody></table>As Sistas in Zion scenario: Dick and Jane are guests at a dinner party at the home of Bob and Betty. Betty has prepared a lovely tray of cocktails which Bob is graciously offering to his guests. Dick and Jane are members of <a href="http://www.lds.org/">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a>,and Bob is unaware that Dick and Jane do not drink alcohol.<br /><br /><br />Being a gentleman, (ladies first!) Bob offers Jane a drink. Before Jane can even respond Dick yells, "No! We do not drink alcohol. We are <a href="http://www.mormons.org/">Mormons</a> and we believe in the <a href="http://lds.org/study/topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng">Word of Wisdom</a>." Dick then knocks the drink out of Bob's hand spilling red wine on the new tie which Bob's children lovingly handpicked from the Sears Roebuck Catalogue, and gave to him for Father's Day.<br /><br />Betty, the ever prepared hostess, retrieves a bottle of club soda to offer as a drink to her sober dinner guests and use on the spilled red wine before any stains set. Bob tells Dick "not to worry" and that "Betty is a whiz at getting stains out." Bob apologizes to Dick and Jane for being unaware of Mormon customs and assures them that any offense was unintentional. Bob and Betty excuse themselves so that they can get Bob out of his soiled shirt and into a freshly pressed one, which Betty wisely had on hand in case of instances such as these.<br /><br />While Bob and Betty are away Jane gives Dick a stern look. Dick tells Jane that he is "uncomfortable staying at a dinner party where "<a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/tg/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng">strong drink</a>" is being served." When Bob and Betty return, Dick and Jane make a polite excuse and swiftly leave the dinner party. Bob and Betty discuss how they "never took Dick and Jane for such strange people," and decide that it must be their being Mormon that makes them so peculiar. Betty regrets inviting them over for dinner and hopes to heaven she can get the wine out of Bob's tie, because the children would be so disappointed.<br /><br />Have you ever been with an LDS friend in a social setting and they act so awkwardly in a situation in which a simple "no, thank you" would be enough? You're at a restaurant and they hand you the wine list and this friend has to go into a long explanation about why you don't need it.  Someone asks if you have a lighter and instead of just saying no, there's a weird stutter filled answer, or they are always complaining because there's a coffee pot in the break room. Do you ever find yourself in the situation of apologizing for the social awkwardness of Mormon friends, or are you the person that finds it difficult to navigate these social scenes?<br /><br />In the 1950s the LDS church launched an advertisement campaign entitled "<a href="http://www.keepapitchinin.org/2010/03/01/be-honest-with-yourself-the-background/">Be Honest With Yourself</a>." Although the ad may be dated we think the following advice is still quite relevant:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblSCAjsCEiIluAS1rbtOWU7yvTlmdPxHOPaM297yw0kBz5OE0fmh_sbyY6HhGbKjH-2mxKIaexIsB6osbLGmkaV6Ftsag51iNlSv8_a5W0n_mVohYQiG660k9xhSYqd0gSvfQD8hLU5w/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblSCAjsCEiIluAS1rbtOWU7yvTlmdPxHOPaM297yw0kBz5OE0fmh_sbyY6HhGbKjH-2mxKIaexIsB6osbLGmkaV6Ftsag51iNlSv8_a5W0n_mVohYQiG660k9xhSYqd0gSvfQD8hLU5w/s320/1.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"</span>No, Thank You!</span></i></div><blockquote>How should you answer the person who invites you to “take a cigarette” or “have a drink” – or do anything which is against your conscience or contrary to the teachings of your Heavenly Father?<br /><br />What should you say? How much do you need to explain or apologize? When, if ever, should you compromise just a little for the sake of appearances?<br /><br />The answer is easy. Just say “No – no, thank you.” Don’t waver. Don’t worry about how others may think or act. Be your own natural, honest self. Everyone admires sincerity.<br /><br />If the invitation to indulge in something you don’t believe in comes from a host or hostess while you are a guest, your answer will come even easier. The obligation of courtesy is not that of the guest but of the host.<br /><br />The gracious host will never press you, never question your right to be yourself in matters of conscience. He will admire you for your forthright stand.<br /><br />It’s natural to want to be liked by the crowd. But compromising with principles is always wrong, often dangerous.<br /><br />What is right? What is wrong? Fortunately, there are ways for members of the Church to recognize right from wrong. Read the Scriptures; listen to the teachings of your Church leaders. And listen, also, to the whisperings of that “still, small voice.” When it whispers “It’s wrong; don’t do it!” – say firmly, honestly, finally: “No, thank you – no!”<br /><br />BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">"</span></blockquote>Sidenote: Is it just us, or does anyone else looking at this picture think Dick should be less worried about the drink and more worried about why Jane and Bob are gazing into each others eyes? We're just sayin.<br /><br />God be with you,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

No, Thank You! I'm Mormon

1958 "Be Honest With Yourself" LDS advertisement. As Sistas in Zion scenario: Dick and Jane are guests at a dinner party at the ho...

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