Weird comments from my boss about being Mormon

[specka]

To make a very long story short, my boss at work KNOWS that I am Mormon and occasionally we make very short conversation about my beliefs, etc. I love to poke fun at myself and sometimes she will make a non-offensive light hearted joke about me being Mormon. I'm sure many of you understand where I am coming from. As long as it is not degrading, or uncomfortable I have no problem laughing at the Mormon/Utah culture. But today at work she said something that made me uncomfortable.

There is another worker (let's call him Earl) who I was poking fun at because he was transferring to another store within the company located in Provo, UT which some people including myself have affectionately named, "Happy Valley." This other worker is well-known as being LDS as well so we got kind of a good laugh about him going to Happy Valley and leaving our store for good. Well, my boss overheard our conversation and said, "why are you calling it Happy Valley?" and I said, "cause there are a lot of Mormons there, hehe." She rolled her eyes and said, "Hey those Mormons are Earl's people!" and laughed. I then said, "well those Mormons are my people too, but I still make fun of them sometimes!" To which she stated, "yeah but you don't congregate with them." Ummmmm...I have NO idea how she came to that conclusion, of even what it specifically means. Like I'm not active or something? (I am)..it was one of those situations where it all happened so fast and I had to quickly get back to work that I all I could do was say, "huh?" and the conversation dissolved immediately. Now, hours later I feel horrible!! Like am I not being a good example and making her think I don't care about my faith? I'm so confused and feel uneasy about all of this....

[annewandering]

Sometimes people misunderstand humor. I would have to think about my actions if someone thought I was not a believing LDS person but that is what you are doing. Its probably a good thing for anyone to do on occasion. Some people think I am not because I am liberal. It makes me consider and evaluate.

One thing you might do is clear it up in a casual way with her.

[skippy740]

Something kinda similar happened to me along these lines last week.

I was in my Algebra class, and (as you would guess), the topic of the students turns to the weekend and drinking, etc.

I told them that I don't drink.

They asked me why.

Aside from it not being such a good idea, I also mentioned that I was LDS/Mormon.

He said "Really? I wouldn't have guessed that."

I asked, "Why is that?"

And he said, "You don't seem the type."

Yes, it did make me think, pause and self-reflect for a bit. I decided to take it as a compliment in my situation. He knows me as a hard worker (worked on a group project together) and knows that I'm determined to get things done.

But there's another point: I don't use religion as my excuse for not doing everything. I have made up my own mind and my faith helps to reinforce those decisions.

I also don't know all the experiences that my fellow students have had with others of the Church. So, I may be VERY different from their prior experiences? Or, they didn't really get to know them very well... probably because their weekend activities aren't compatible with the LDS lifestyle?

So, take a little time for self-reflection... and then don't worry about it. :)

[specka]

I guess I am not really sure what to say. I've had the advantage of this manager really taking a liking to me and even pushing me for promotions. Am I wrong for making light of my faith? I know this topic isn't even near the complications of other topics brought up in the advice section...however, I'm having a hard time figuring out if I should bring it up to my manager, or just let it go...you know?

[specka]

Some people think I am not because I am liberal.

THIS. We have had some political conversations in the past in which I shared my liberal/moderate views with her. But still...I don't congregate with Mormons? What the heck does that even mean? She made it sound like I don't affiliate with people in the Church or something...just makes me cringe just thinking about it! Maybe that's an issue in-and-of itself, I'm afraid that people will think I'm not "LDS" enough. Yikes...

[skippy740]

Am I wrong for making light of my faith?

If you're making light of the doctrine of our faith, then yes.

I don't think that's what you're doing.

As LDS, we have a unique culture. And it can be really funny - especially in Utah! I mean, funeral potatoes and green jello with shredded carrots. Who else does this??? :)

If you want to talk to your boss about it, you could. Just keep it light. You don't want to freak out your boss thinking there's some kind of religious intolerance going on at the workplace.

Just mention that you love your faith, but you also know that our culture is unique and funny when looking at it from the 'outside'. But you love what it means to you. You just happen to be one of the people who can love and have a light-hearted humor about your people.

[Guest]

If you're making light of the doctrine of our faith, then yes.

I don't think that's what you're doing.

As LDS, we have a unique culture. And it can be really funny - especially in Utah! I mean, funeral potatoes and green jello with shredded carrots. Who else does this??? :)

Midwestern Lutherans.

But I think we have the market cornered on big platinum blond hair, preparedness, and awkward dances/socials designed to get young people married.

[RipplecutBuddha]

It just goes to show that while we have a great deal in common when viewed as a religion, on an individual basis, there's no such thing as a 'typical mormon'. This is also the point of the I'm a Mormon ads, I believe. As long as you are living in harmony with the Gospel of Christ as best you can, there's no need to worry.

Take me for example...I can't stand shredded carrots in my lime green jell-o, but whipped cream and crushed walnuts....heck yeah!!!

[Wingnut]

I don't know where you live, specka, but I would guess it's outside Utah, or at least outside Utah Valley. Therefore, you don't congregate with the masses of Mormons who live there.

[SanctitasDeo]

but whipped cream and crushed walnuts....heck yeah!!!

This actually sounds pretty good. I have never had that variation before. And yeah, shredded carrots sounds disgusting to me.

[dahlia]

but whipped cream and crushed walnuts....heck yeah!!!

Wait - what do you put this on? It sounds great (tho I would probably use cool whip). Maybe I can make it with whipped tofu and make it vegan?

[NightSG]

Midwestern Lutherans.

That explains a lot about some of my extended family.

[RipplecutBuddha]

Wait - what do you put this on? It sounds great (tho I would probably use cool whip). Maybe I can make it with whipped tofu and make it vegan?

Just a plain dish of lime green jell-o with a layer of whipped cream on top, sprinkled with crushed walnuts. It's how I was raised with the traditional dish. Occasionally mom would put carrots in it, but I didn't care for that variety for some reason.

I'm the only kid in our family that immediately liked pickled beets, and I took easily to most every fruit or vegetable from very early on, except tomatoes for some reason.

Go figure

[mnn727]

As a convert myself; People watch you when they know your 'Mormon' I did when I knew someone was Mormon before I joined the Church(before I even investigated the Church), if you make jokes about it, then they will think you're not serious about it. I am not saying you have to be serious all the time, but please watch what you say and do.

I used to work with a non-Mormon that did a 3 month contract in SLC, because the people that worked with him were not serious about their beliefs and joked about things that shouldn't be joked about, he had a very strange view of Mormons. he made so many wrong observations about us that it took me the entire 3 years I worked with him here in Texas to rid him of his bad opinion of Mormons -- not sure I ever really did but at least he stopped complaining about what Mormons believed or did when I was around.

Edited April 1, 2013 by mnn727

[mnn727]

Take me for example...I can't stand shredded carrots in my lime green jell-o, but whipped cream and crushed walnuts....heck yeah!!!

I don't even like jello! But then I'm a Convert.

[annewandering]

I love jello! Especially green with peach as a close second! And I like it with carrots and even salad dressing mayonnaise!!

[Backroads]

I split my work time between two offices. The smaller of the two is pretty much ran by me and two other women. One of these women is LDS, one is Presbyterian. Many of our volunteers (in a high LDS area) know one of our employees is not LDS at this office. So they sometimes attempt an educated guess...

99% of the time, it's either my LDS coworker or myself who is thought to be the non-LDS one. Don't ask me why.

There are Mormon stereotypes out there. You simply might not match up.

In the end, I wouldn't worry about this.

[MrPickles]

I not only wouldn't worry about it I definitely wouldn't bring it up to my boss.

Ask your self if you are living the gospel principles to the best of your ability. If the answer is yes then who cares what your boss thinks. Even if you are not who cares, salvation is personal it is your business how seriously you take the gospel or not. If you know in your heart what you believe and practice than don't waste one more minute thinking about a comment made in passing by your boss

Edited April 3, 2013 by MrPickles
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