Comments on: You Mormons are some brave *#($*@! http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/ A Mormon Blog Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:27:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: stako http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19997 stako Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:26:14 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19997 while serving in the ghetto parts of melbourne we had overstayed our time at a members home after he told us a story about moroni in new zealand. we only had 30 mins to catch the train back which was a long ride home for us. we peddled as fast as we could and could see the train leaving from a distance and the next one wasnt till 10:30. I felt I had let my Heavenly Father down and wasnt looking forward to calling the zoneleaders that night which I got rebuked but advised to get back quickly. As soon as it hit 9:30 and passed on the other side of the track it seemed as if the gates of hell had poured its whole spirit for all the people on the other side at the same time started cussing and persecuting us and pointing the two fingers. One aussie decided to cross the tracks and come over to our side and our whole district of six just stood there. At that moment I felt the temptation soo strong to knock him out,I apologize I'ts my samoan bad side in me. so I I took off my badge and put it in my pocket and this dude was going to receive the beating of his life, like the scripture says"better to give than to receive." as he approaches me he says" who is moroni?"" he is a prophet of god" I said.And like that he backs off and stares at me like something hit him and he walked back to other side an sat back down quietly. while serving in the ghetto parts of melbourne we had overstayed our time at a members home after he told us a story about moroni in new zealand. we only had 30 mins to catch the train back which was a long ride home for us. we peddled as fast as we could and could see the train leaving from a distance and the next one wasnt till 10:30. I felt I had let my Heavenly Father down and wasnt looking forward to calling the zoneleaders that night which I got rebuked but advised to get back quickly. As soon as it hit 9:30 and passed on the other side of the track it seemed as if the gates of hell had poured its whole spirit for all the people on the other side at the same time started cussing and persecuting us and pointing the two fingers. One aussie decided to cross the tracks and come over to our side and our whole district of six just stood there. At that moment I felt the temptation soo strong to knock him out,I apologize I’ts my samoan bad side in me. so I I took off my badge and put it in my pocket and this dude was going to receive the beating of his life, like the scripture says”better to give than to receive.” as he approaches me he says” who is moroni?”" he is a prophet of god” I said.And like that he backs off and stares at me like something hit him and he walked back to other side an sat back down quietly.

]]> By: Zoobie http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19996 Zoobie Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:55:04 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19996 On my mission in Louisiana, we were told by cops and residents of certain neighborhoods that we "must be lost," "need to turn around," or "don't belong here." Those people, I am sure, were just trying to be helpful. I frequently bicycled to a notorious housing project several times, did a little teaching, and helped out with basketball games in the community center there. Once, a gentleman approached us to say that a gang fight was about to happen and that we really should leave. I've always thought that gentleman was inspired to warn us to safety. We got away just fine; if we had listened to the members, we would never have had the experience of taking the gospel to that neighborhood. On my mission in Louisiana, we were told by cops and residents of certain neighborhoods that we “must be lost,” “need to turn around,” or “don’t belong here.” Those people, I am sure, were just trying to be helpful. I frequently bicycled to a notorious housing project several times, did a little teaching, and helped out with basketball games in the community center there. Once, a gentleman approached us to say that a gang fight was about to happen and that we really should leave. I’ve always thought that gentleman was inspired to warn us to safety. We got away just fine; if we had listened to the members, we would never have had the experience of taking the gospel to that neighborhood.

]]> By: Andy http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19995 Andy Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:24:53 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19995 Not really a bravery story, but some Elders in my district were shopping on preparation day, in a big mall, when two young fellas approached them. Thinking it was a chance to teach, the Elders stopped, but the two guys grabbed their badges and ran off! The Elders chashed by couldnt catch them. The rest of the district thought this was pretty funny. When we had district meetings in other areas, we would do it to other missionaries as a role play ;) Not really a bravery story, but some Elders in my district were shopping on preparation day, in a big mall, when two young fellas approached them. Thinking it was a chance to teach, the Elders stopped, but the two guys grabbed their badges and ran off! The Elders chashed by couldnt catch them.

The rest of the district thought this was pretty funny. When we had district meetings in other areas, we would do it to other missionaries as a role play ;)

]]> By: Dan http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19994 Dan Wed, 28 Mar 2007 03:50:56 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19994 Please excuse the typing, I am tired. Please excuse the typing, I am tired.

]]> By: Dan http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19993 Dan Wed, 28 Mar 2007 03:50:04 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19993 Nothing too crazy happened to me. We did have some Elders that called us a few nights in a row threatening us. We didn't know it was them until later. We had the usual stuff, some threatenings, one gun. In one of my areas in our apartment complex, it was very close to an affluent side of town. I served in Vegas. A few months before I got to this particular areaa resident of the complex was shot and killed over a drug deal gone bad. While I was there, the apratment complex right behind us, ( the apratmetn itself was probably a couple of hundred feet away there was a stabbing that resulted in death during a home invasion. Lots of little things. Nothing too crazy happened to me. We did have some Elders that called us a few nights in a row threatening us. We didn’t know it was them until later. We had the usual stuff, some threatenings, one gun. In one of my areas in our apartment complex, it was very close to an affluent side of town. I served in Vegas. A few months before I got to this particular areaa resident of the complex was shot and killed over a drug deal gone bad. While I was there, the apratment complex right behind us, ( the apratmetn itself was probably a couple of hundred feet away there was a stabbing that resulted in death during a home invasion. Lots of little things.

]]> By: J. Hernandez http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19992 J. Hernandez Wed, 28 Mar 2007 03:19:32 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19992 I do believe in the inspiration of mission presidents. I also believe that sometimes missionaries walk into situations that they should have avoided. 28 years ago in Duran, Ecuador my companions and I sat in a little tienda to enjoy a cold soft drink and to make plans for the rest of the day. There was a little table at the store and I sat next to the open window. All at once I felt someone grab my hair firmly and they began to bang my head against the window frame. I tried to loose myself but I could feel hairs pulling out so I grabbed his hand so he couldn't bang my head anymore and I tried to pull him into the tienda. By that time one of my companions had ran outside and was pulling him the other way and began to beat the snot out of him. He was drunk and posessed and began swearing at us in Spanish and English. The "beating" brought out the entire neighborhood and they were ready to attack the three of us. Soon the store owner came out and told them that the drunk deserved what he got and they all walked away dissapointed. We had armed federales threaten us a time or two because we weren't carrying the papers they wanted to see and because we didn't have any money in our wallets that they could steal (I always carried a small amount of effectivo in my socks) Other than that, the Lord protected the missionaries in our mission. I do believe in the inspiration of mission presidents. I also believe that sometimes missionaries walk into situations that they should have avoided. 28 years ago in Duran, Ecuador my companions and I sat in a little tienda to enjoy a cold soft drink and to make plans for the rest of the day. There was a little table at the store and I sat next to the open window.
All at once I felt someone grab my hair firmly and they began to bang my head against the window frame. I tried to loose myself but I could feel hairs pulling out so I grabbed his hand so he couldn’t bang my head anymore and I tried to pull him into the tienda. By that time one of my companions had ran outside and was pulling him the other way and began to beat the snot out of him. He was drunk and posessed and began swearing at us in Spanish and English. The “beating” brought out the entire neighborhood and they were ready to attack the three of us. Soon the store owner came out and told them that the drunk deserved what he got and they all walked away dissapointed.

We had armed federales threaten us a time or two because we weren’t carrying the papers they wanted to see and because we didn’t have any money in our wallets that they could steal (I always carried a small amount of effectivo in my socks)

Other than that, the Lord protected the missionaries in our mission.

]]> By: LAGirrrl http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19991 LAGirrrl Wed, 28 Mar 2007 02:51:08 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19991 Kevin, Your "fun" quote about Mormons leaving the theatre singing "it's hard out here to be a pimp." is a terrifying new trend in which thug/pimp life is being normalized and thus normalizing and glamourizing prostitution. I'll be writing a guest blog on in at FMH in April but just wanted to make a note of the harm such cultural pictures conjure up from a societal point of view. Service Announcement Over. Kevin, Your “fun” quote about Mormons leaving the theatre singing “it’s hard out here to be a pimp.” is a terrifying new trend in which thug/pimp life is being normalized and thus normalizing and glamourizing prostitution. I’ll be writing a guest blog on in at FMH in April but just wanted to make a note of the harm such cultural pictures conjure up from a societal point of view.

Service Announcement Over.

]]> By: Zoobie http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19990 Zoobie Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:28:42 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19990 bbell, all due respect, the situation I wrote about was all about the bad attitudes of local members versus the inspiration of the mission president and zone leaders. The members really had no feel for how to go about following inspired counsel. I couldn't begin to tell you how wack that branch was. It was like Sunstone and Dialogue had put up a freak flag in the middle of New Orleans. I was glad to be out of there. bbell, all due respect, the situation I wrote about was all about the bad attitudes of local members versus the inspiration of the mission president and zone leaders. The members really had no feel for how to go about following inspired counsel. I couldn’t begin to tell you how wack that branch was. It was like Sunstone and Dialogue had put up a freak flag in the middle of New Orleans. I was glad to be out of there.

]]> By: Chuck McKinnon http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19989 Chuck McKinnon Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:50:07 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19989 I served in the Bordeaux mission and didn't get into much trouble. There were some "quartiers sensibles" -- a polite euphemism for rough neighborhoods -- but my companions and I knew enough to avoid those after a certain time of day. One Elder I served with, a big British rugby player (6'4", ~285lbs) had a 14-year-old try to hold him and his companion up at knifepoint once. My friend laughed and told the kid to take a hike before he got his arm broken. When the kid threatened to bring his brothers, the bellowed retort was "Bring your whole family!!" The kid ran off, and my friend started to hustle his companion towards the train station. When his comp asked what the problem was, my friend replied "he's gone to get his whole family; time to get out of here." One time we had a blitz in Bordeaux proper -- we brought in a bunch of missionaries and spent most of the day contacting along a huge pedestrian mall, the rue St. Catherine. Two Elders I knew contacted this one guy and without a word he slugged one of the missionaries in the face, breaking his nose. It later emerged that the guy had been contacted three streets in a row by different missionaries, twice said he wasn't interested, and had finally had enough. Only once did I have to speak with the kind of authority others have mentioned, and that wasn't in a context of bravery. I'll add my witness, though, that when it happens it's an unforgettable event -- the more so for its rarity. I served in the Bordeaux mission and didn’t get into much trouble. There were some “quartiers sensibles” — a polite euphemism for rough neighborhoods — but my companions and I knew enough to avoid those after a certain time of day.

One Elder I served with, a big British rugby player (6′4″, ~285lbs) had a 14-year-old try to hold him and his companion up at knifepoint once. My friend laughed and told the kid to take a hike before he got his arm broken. When the kid threatened to bring his brothers, the bellowed retort was “Bring your whole family!!” The kid ran off, and my friend started to hustle his companion towards the train station. When his comp asked what the problem was, my friend replied “he’s gone to get his whole family; time to get out of here.”

One time we had a blitz in Bordeaux proper — we brought in a bunch of missionaries and spent most of the day contacting along a huge pedestrian mall, the rue St. Catherine. Two Elders I knew contacted this one guy and without a word he slugged one of the missionaries in the face, breaking his nose. It later emerged that the guy had been contacted three streets in a row by different missionaries, twice said he wasn’t interested, and had finally had enough.

Only once did I have to speak with the kind of authority others have mentioned, and that wasn’t in a context of bravery. I’ll add my witness, though, that when it happens it’s an unforgettable event — the more so for its rarity.

]]> By: bbell http://bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/24/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19988 bbell Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:45:08 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2007/03/you-mormons-are-some-brave/#comment-19988 Hey Zoobie, I think that situations like you mention can go both ways. Having local input on safety issues can be of value In post 35 I mentioned a boarding that got burned down in a riot. The background is that a American Misson president had decided to put the usually white elders into boardings in the large black townships of Sout Africa. This was done over the objections of the local members both black and white who were concerned about the safety of the elders. The boardings started getting burned down in riots after a political assasination and a new local mission president was called. He refused to reopen the boardings for safety reasons and considered the departing MP as ignorant to the realities of the local conditions. Hey Zoobie,

I think that situations like you mention can go both ways. Having local input on safety issues can be of value

In post 35 I mentioned a boarding that got burned down in a riot. The background is that a American Misson president had decided to put the usually white elders into boardings in the large black townships of Sout Africa. This was done over the objections of the local members both black and white who were concerned about the safety of the elders.

The boardings started getting burned down in riots after a political assasination and a new local mission president was called. He refused to reopen the boardings for safety reasons and considered the departing MP as ignorant to the realities of the local conditions.

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