Mormons coming over for christmas dinner

[_Rambo]

I can't be treated like a non Mormon stem?

[_stemelbow]

I can't be treated like a non Mormon stem?

What? Why not?

[_KimberlyAnn]

I think perhaps you should thank your guests for coming and invite them to share with you a moment of silence. They can pray silently and give thanks for their meal, and you can mentally list things for which you're thankful, which is a good thing for anyone to do.

After a minute or so passes, thank them again for joining you, and for their help should they give it, and begin passing the potatoes, ham, asparagus and what have you, always to the right and never serving yourself first.

I also think that you should prepare desserts in advance, and perhaps rolls, so that you take an equal share in the preparation of the meal. That seems only right.

Being a generous host is important. There should be a way for both host and guests to be respectful of one another. A moment of silence might be just the ticket.

Just a suggestion.

KA

[_Rambo]

I can't be treated like a non Mormon stem?

What? Why not?

Because I gave you a situation about an atheist and you said it wasn't the same situation. How was that situation different?

[_stemelbow]

Because I gave you a situation about an atheist and you said it wasn't the same situation. How was that situation different?

You can take KimberleeAnn's advice too. It'd work just fine, I think.

I thought you said this was a group of your friends that are LDS. They all want to have a dinner with each other and you. And you have decided to have it at your place. Right? it seems to me that the only logical thing to expect is that they have a prayer with each other. Afterall, as it seemed in the OP, you are the only one that is not them. If prayer offends you, if their beliefs are that wrong to you, then explain that it'd be best to have a moment of silence. They'd be fine. But I didn't think their beliefs necessarily offended you. Nor did I think it would affect you at all if they had a prayer. I guess so?

[_Rambo]

Stem they asked me and I said it would be fine for them to come. I still don't understand how my situation is different than the one I hypothetically made. Oh well.

[_ludwigm]

No. Set up boundaries. I would say it would be rude for him to tell them they can't offer a simple prayer amongst each other. He can set up all sorts of boundaries at his house all he wants. That doesn't mean the boundaries can't be rude. Say he has a working toilet. He invites people over for a period of 4 hours. Its likely someone would need to use the toilet during that time, but he decides to set up a boundary by making a rule that none of his guests can use his toilet. They may have to head down the street to use the public facilities at the store or something. That would be a rude boundary to enforce I'd say.

I like this parallel on prayer an toilet using.

(parallel: having comparable parts, analogous aspects, or readily recognized similarities)

[_Drifting]

stem, you told Rambo that he'd be "rude" to enforce boundaries in his own house. If you can't see how and why that's problematic, then there's probably no help for you.

I would say it would be rude for him to tell them they can't offer a simple prayer amongst each other.

I understand the principle of making invited guests feel welcome.

But...

Would it be equally rude if the Mormons were not tolerant of him incanting the devil immediately before eating, if that is his custom?

[_LDSToronto]

Rambo,

We no longer pray at mealtimes in our family. But, this is Christmas, a time for celebration, gatherings, peace, and tradition. I absolutely would ask for a prayer to be said, to show that I love my friends and that I want to respect their religious traditions and make them comfortable.

Think of it a little differently - when I have Muslim friends over to my annual BBQ, I don't insist that they eat pork or non-Halal meats. It is an inconvenience for me to purchase Halal hotdogs and chickens, scrape and clean the grill, and cook it for them. However, I do it because I love and respect my Muslim friends and their traditions.

And second, you are a Canadian, man! Don't get all uptight about this crap, dude - they want to bless the food and give thanks for the things they love, not rebaptise you and cast out spirits ;)

H.

[_Yoda]

Some of my Mormon friends want to have a christmas dinner with me. I'm actually really good friends with them and they have been my friends for about 6 years now. We have always had a good time hanging around each other. There pretty cool Mormons actually and they are really liberal in their belief. They are totally fine with other people living a life on how they want.

Anyways, they invited me to a christmas dinner at their place. My cousin suggested that we should do the dinner at my place because I have a bigger kitchen and a pretty sweet view. I said that would be fine. Basically they will be cooking all day while I am at work and then I'll come home to a sweet turkey dinner.

I thought about it later that they will proabably want to say a prayer. I don't believe in God and I don't really like prayers being said in my house. What do you think I should do? Should I tell them no prayers or just not let it bother me and have a prayer?

It's Christmas. I don't think that one prayer would hurt anything.