I wonder if I could fit into a religion simply to have a social group and not so much because I believe what they teach. I am a very social person, and yet I feel like I have no friends. Today, visiting this mormon church, I really felt like there were some great people who could become my friends.
Jayson had a good time too. He is more motivated by a desire to have some religion in his life than I am, but I think he wishes we had more friends too. With three young kids, that seems to be the only focus of our lives. But this church was so strong on families that I think we could have a social life there and still have our kids as the center of our lives.
The church service was certainly interesting. There was no pastor that got up and preached. Instead random people from the audience got up and just talked about how much they believed in the church. Kind of like how I picture an AA meeting. They sang hymns, and most people actually sang along. We didn’t, because we didn’t really know the songs. Several prayers, which I found weird, and then bread and water was passed around to everyone. We didn’t have any, and I’m not sure if we were supposed to. We erred on the side of caution.
Then the kids were ushered to the kids sunday school and we went to the adult sunday school. It was a little weird to have the kids go off with these strange people I have never met, but everyone was so friendly and seemingly trustworthy that I felt OK with it.
The class in sunday school was kind of boring. I tried to pay attention but for the most part my mind was wandering. I wanted a cigarette but knew that was frowned upon. After sunday school I thought we would be done, but then they broke us up into other groups. Jayson went off with the men and I stayed with the women. It seemed weirdly segregated, but I wasn’t too surprised by that. Churches in general have a reputation of treating men and women differently.
There were a handful of women about my age that all seemed to want to be my friend. They were all very nice and I got along with them. I could honestly see myself becoming their friend.
On the drive home, we all talked about how we had a generally good time, but three hours…that’s a long time to be at church. I was exhausted. I wanted a cigarette. And a beer. And to do other things that I felt like the church wouldn’t allow me to do.
We’ll probably go back. I’m trying to be open-minded. But people there talk about Joseph Smith like he’s a god, and I see him more as this weird cult leader. I’d probably like the church more if I didn’t know it was founded by this random guy who had a bunch of wives.
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