posted on April 8, 2008 06:59:03 PM new
I suspect we've all had Mormon missionaries show up at our door, along with other denominations, SDA, last night I had Church of Christ ladies. I usually am rude, say "not interested" and close the door. My neighbor, Bill is different - he enjoys chatting with them, especially the Mormons. I think Bill is a hoarder. He was threatened with eviction a month ago and given 2 weeks to clean up his act. The Mormon missionary and four elders showed up at his place and hauled away 1500 pounds of stuff. He still didn't pass inspection. He was given another two weeks. The same folks arrived today and spent 5 hours loading and hauling. Bill offered to pay them, he has meager resources - I think he's on disability and spends his time with charities, Loaves & Fishes and Free Geek. They wouldn't accept money. They said "We're Mormons, this is what we do".
I can't comprehend the theology of the Mormon church or the reasons that people adhere to it. I doubt if Bill will ever be converted - he is a Scientologist type of guy. If a religion is measured by the acts of its believers, I think there is a special place in heaven for Mormons.
posted on April 8, 2008 08:34:34 PM new
My aunt did a stint in Utah during WWII when my uncle was stationed there. She always claimed that it was the Mormon housewives who taught her to make real lard pie crust. For that, I am eternally grateful to the Daughters of Brigham.
To me, their theology is no more odd nor cultlike than any other religion that requires absolute unquestioning belief of it's adherents. They're all bizarre as far as I'm concerned. I do know and have done business with quite a few LDS ranchers, and they have been honest, forthright and giving to a fault with me, in spite of my being a gentile, not to mention a CatLick....
No missionaries bother us way out here, it could be due to my sign at the gate that indicates buckshot and grouchy dogs are waiting for uninvited entrants, but I have a pal in town who swears that he tells them he's an observant Orthodox Jew when they come to the door and they thank him, wish him a good day and go away.
posted on April 8, 2008 09:55:48 PM new
I didn't know that Mormons went door to door. One of my friends travels throughout the US and into Mexico for part of the year and returns to work in BC during the summer. He said one time he was traveling in Utah and his van broke down and he was really worried as he didn't have much money but it was in a Mormon community and they fed him and gave him a place to sleep and did all kinds of extra work on his vehicle and even put on newer tires but didn't expect anything in return. He said he will never forget that trip and how kind they were.
posted on April 9, 2008 12:20:09 AM new
Oh, I just bet they LOVED hauling away old Bill's "junk"...and right onto ebay it went. Oh, what nice kind people ...they didn't even let the old guy PAY them to STEAL his belongings! What nice people!
posted on April 9, 2008 05:49:40 AM new
Mingo writes..."Oh, I just bet they LOVED hauling away old Bill's "junk"...and right onto ebay it went. Oh, what nice kind people ...they didn't even let the old guy PAY them to STEAL his belongings! What nice people!"
On the other hand if the Mormon's motive was altruistic, they share that unselfish concern for others with people of all faiths and with people who have no religious affiliation or belief in heavenly rewards. Therefore, they deserve no "special place in heaven".
I do wish that the believers would realize that they are wasting their time knocking on my door.
posted on April 9, 2008 06:19:45 AM new
I bet they made a pretty penny on 10 years of old newspapers, and gazillions of used styrofoam dinner containers. They hauled away GARBAGE.
posted on April 9, 2008 07:25:11 PM new
Update: Bill failed his inspection. The manager is going to try to get an extension and another inspection in 30 days, but doubts if the management company will go for it. I saw his living room today. Boxes and carp piled high to my height with a small passage way cleared out and vacuumed. I noticed a tower of old over-sized lampshades- god knows why he is keeping them. He already moved out a literal ton of garbage, all his dirty laundry (apparently. he went to Value Village for "new" old clothes rather than wash them) and 8 computers and monitors. I'm going to offer my help in getting rid of his garbage/unused stuff in exchange for his help in clearing out my storage space. Reminds me of an old George Carlin bit on acquiring "stuff".
posted on April 11, 2008 01:57:38 PM new
Profe - almost sprayed tea all over my computer when I read your comment "I am eternally grateful to the Daughters of Brigham" LOLOLOL
The Mormons come by here about once a year. They are the only ones who wear suits any more now that most offices have gone "casual". You can spot them a mile away. I usually pretend like I am not home and don't answer the door.
I remember when we were kids the Avon Lady actually came in to the house to take mom's order (now they just leave pamphlets in my mail box) and the Fuller Brush man came by regularly. Mom turned the Mormons and Jehovah's Witness folks away (after all Dad was a minister and we hardly were in the market for a church). There was a time in Nebraska when the door-to-door sales people were very welcome but the world is not like that any more.
I either pretend I am not home or am very curt to the green peace folks selling educational materials and Kirby vacuum cleaner sales people. Last year I made the mistake and answered the door when two men in white coveralls came by and insisted they wanted to do a pest inspection because they found mice in a neighbor's house. LOL They were so insistent and started checking out my foundation. I finally yelled at them and told them they were trespassing and to get off my property or I would call the police. We also get little black kids selling candy bars for "school" or "sports teams" but I think they really just sell for some private person who hires them. They are harder to turn down. I tell them I am on a diet and not eating candy.
My husband on the other hand talks to these people and in the ends turns them down. He thinks I am mean to send them away. I say he is mean for wasting their (and his) time.
I think the Mormons were very kind to help your neighbor but I bet he has not seen the last of them.
posted on April 11, 2008 06:54:37 PM new
Neglus writes "I think the Mormons were very kind to help your neighbor but I bet he has not seen the last of them". I hope you're right, he'll need help moving. He was given a 30-day extension. I gently suggested that he was letting his "stuff" take control of his life, maybe it's time to let go of it and offered to help him. He refuses. Said he'd find a larger space if he had to. I don't know how he'll pay for it. Such a good, giving person- but he's letting his garbage get the better of him. At least he's not hoarding pets.
posted on April 11, 2008 08:38:30 PM new Pixiamom, there are some very helpful suggestions and links that might be helpful to this fellow who has a problem with compulsive hoarding on MetaFilter. There is a request for help there by someone with the problem followed by several good links and another poster, aeschenkarnos, has an especially helpful suggestion.
Maybe if the property owner knows that your neighbor is seeking help he may give him another extension.
posted on April 12, 2008 06:24:37 AM new
For hoarders, this is an amusing philosophy that one reader suggested.
"Coveting possessions is unhealthy. Here's how I look at it: "
"All of the computers on Ebay are mine. In fact, everything on Ebay is already mine. All of those things are just in long term storage that I pay nothing for. Storage is free."
"When I want to take something out of storage, I just pay them for the storage costs for that particular thing up to that point, plus a nominal shipping fee, and my things are delivered to me so I can use them. When I am done with them, I return them to storage via Craigslist or Ebay, and I am given a fee as compensation for freeing up the storage facilities resources."
"This is also the case with all of my stuff that Amazon and Walmart are holding for me. I have antiques, priceless art, cars, estates, and jewels beyond the dreams of avarice."
"The world is my museum, displaying my collections on loan. The James Savages of the world are merely curators."
posted on April 12, 2008 11:08:44 PM new
That's really amazing writing, Helen. Took me a while to get it. I've never heard it put that way--about the world storing his things. Neat.
_____________________
posted on April 15, 2008 08:39:45 PM new
Maybe I can't help my neighbor, but I've convinced myself to go through my storage locker to rid myself of the things that I can't rationally hold on to. Helen has good advice, keep the irreplaceable items, it's cheaper to discard and then buy the replaceable items, if you need them, than to store them. Again, George Carlin's bit on "too much stuff" comes to mind.
[ edited by pixiamom on Apr 15, 2008 08:46 PM ]
