Layla {heart} Austin

o-i wish i were back on the beach today.

lately my conversations with strangers have been like this:

Them: "where are you from?"
Me: "Utah."
Them: "oh I've been there. Aside from the Mormons it's a beautiful place."

Them: "how long have you lived in New York?"
Me: "I'm just living here temporarily, my permanent home is in Utah."
Them: "Salt Lake City?"
Me: "close to there."
Them: "I've driven through there. It's like an oasis, but it has a lot of Mormons."


(after finding out I am from Utah).
Them: "Are you religious?"
Me: "Yes I am. I am a Latter Day Saint."
Them: "Ohhhh, a mormon. I can tell by your figure you haven't had kids yet."
Me: "You're right, I don't have kids yet."
Them: "Why? Shouldn't you have a bunch by now? I've seen Big Love. (in a tone of disgust.)"
Me: "The LDS religion is different than what they show on Big Love."
(I've never seen it but I know the LDS religion was misrepresented and misunderstood.)
Them: "oh I know." (in a tone that indicates they really don't know. or don't believe.)

This was my most recent conversation.
Them: "You're not from New York are you?"
Me: "No. My home is in Utah."
Them: "I knew it. You're too nice to be from New York. I was going to say the mid-west, but Utah? Ummm. (thinking). Are you one of those Mormons?."
(finally fed up)
Me "well, what do you think about me?"
Them: "oh you've got a lot of energy. you are very outgoing and friendly. a nice girl."
Me: "well, I am one of those mormons."
Them: "oh."

I have even been ushered out of a store while doing some wholesale shopping for my mother-in-law because I was Mormon. {I will say it was hard communicating with the store owner because he didn't speak english very well but it was clear he did not want to do any business with a Mormon.}

I am realizing more and more that some people really don't like the LDS religion or members of the LDS religion.
Ok, let me rephrase that, what I am actually realizing, is not how disliked we are but how misunderstood we are. How little people know or really understand about the LDS religion. Which I guess is easy, if you aren't from or have lived in Utah (or surrounding states).
I can't count how many times I have told people my religion is not a cult and/or I am not polygamist.
Someone even asked me, "do you harvest and yield your own food?"
Now tell me, how do you answer that?
Me, I was stumped.
Finally I said something like, "well, a lot of people in Utah have gardens and some are farmers with crops...but not all those people are Mormons. It's not required of us to grow our own food, if that's what you're asking."
 Someone recently said to me "is it true what they say about your Temple there (in Salt Lake)?"
I'm frantically thinking "what do they say? and how in the world do I answer this?"
I want to say "just don't believe anything you hear about the LDS religion, unless it comes from a member."
But I don't.
 I just said something like "the Temple is a beautiful place. Worthy members are only allowed inside (oh no, did I just open a new can of worms?), but if you ever get the chance, go walk around the grounds of a Temple."

Oh how I want to carry around pass-a-long cards and just say "why don't you find out for yourself." 

I feel like I have to say something though.
Austin (the eternal missionary...don't get me wrong, I think it's a great thing.) says I should hand them out when asked about my religion.

But I would be o-so offended if I saw them toss it into the garbage like I do with all the religious material and other pamplets I get on a daily basis.
Maybe I should experiment and see how it goes? 

I just wish I could carry around a missionary (or Austin) in my back pocket. They'd know what to say.

But I know I can and need to vocalize my testimony tactfully.  That's how it grows, right?

I just need to say more prayers for help. 

I can do this.

(and if you are reading this and are curious about the LDS religion, go HERE. Clearly, you will find much better answers than I've been giving.) =)

But like I said in the beginning, "o-I wish I were back on the beach today".  

With nothing to worry about but whether I put enough sunscreen on or not.