Mormons coming over for christmas dinner

[_Rambo]

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?

[_stemelbow]

I just had a fine and dandy gathering with my friends--some of which seem to hold more of a view as you regarding Mormonism. The rest of us are the active LDS types. We had a prayer. Those who hold to a different view just quietly sat and let us pray. Then the evening itself was about as grand as possible. We all had a great time. No one fretted about some of us praying together.

[_Rambo]

I just had a fine and dandy gathering with my friends--some of which seem to hold more of a view as you regarding Mormonism. The rest of us are the active LDS types. We had a prayer. Those who hold to a different view just quietly sat and let us pray. Then the evening itself was about as grand as possible. We all had a great time. No one fretted about some of us praying together.

Was this prayer in an LDS home or was it in a non believers home?

You have apostate friends! I'm a little surprised...

[_Fence Sitter]

My wife insist on a prayer before each meal. Drives me nuts because she is a great cook and I can't wait to dig in, but I respect her beliefs and don't complain about it . . . . much. (When did the prayer on the food evolve into a general prayer?)

If it were me I would be fine with the prayer because good friends are hard to come by. Better yet offer to give the prayer, dip you hand in water, mutter some unintelligible Latin sounding words and sprinkle the food. After they laugh, allow them their own prayer.

[_stemelbow]

Was this prayer in an LDS home or was it in a non believers home?

This past weekend it was at our house. But we've done the same at our unblievers homes. They are quite willing to extend the olive branch to us.

You have apostate friends! I'm a little surprised...

Of course you are. People have been reading me as something other than I am over here the whole time I've been here. I tend to think its the atmosphere and prejudices of readers here.

[_Rambo]

Was this prayer in an LDS home or was it in a non believers home?

This past weekend it was at our house. But we've done the same at our unblievers homes. They are quite willing to extend the olive branch to us.

What's the olive branch you extend to them in your house? Do you randomly not pray when they come over? Do these people still believe in a God and is that why they don't care if there is a prayer in their house? I just don't have enough background here.

Isn't Mormons coming over to your house and insisting that they have a prayer a little rude? I don't go to their house and insist we don't pray.

To put it in better perspective. Let's say I was apart of another religion that would pray to an idle before each meal. Is it not rude for me to bring my idle to my friends house and say that we have to have a prayer to this idle before we eat. I guess my friend could just sit quietly until I am done the prayer the the idle but it would be a little awkward. Really it's not my house and I shouldn't be doing my religious stuff in other peoples houses.

[_Rambo]

My wife insist on a prayer before each meal. Drives me nuts because she is a great cook and I can't wait to dig in, but I respect her beliefs and don't complain about it . . . . much. (When did the prayer on the food evolve into a general prayer?)

This is different. Your wife lives in the house and she is not a guest.

[_Infymus]

When I am at my TBM inlaws for dinner or whatever prayers - I don't fold my arms, I don't say amen, I don't close my eyes. But I keep keep quiet. It's their house. If they need to as Jesus to make sure the turkey "strengthens and nourishes" their bodies, so be it.

At my house, no prayers. Period. Dig in, enjoy. No need to drag the white Mormon Jesus into it.

Most unfortunate about it all is that Mormons take offense at even the slightest thing. They are so used to being told what to do, when to do it, how to do it - when you get them outside their comfort zones, they get all tweaked out. I used to find it irritating, now I find it amusing to watch them squirm.

Mormons and boundaries. They have none. They expect you to comply with their belief and if you don't, why do you hate Mormonism so much?

Often with them you just have to treat them like children and set boundaries with them right away. If they take offense then that's their problem.

[_Rambo]

When I am at my TBM inlaws for dinner or whatever prayers - I don't fold my arms, I don't say amen, I don't close my eyes. But I keep keep quiet. It's their house. If they need to as Jesus to make sure the turkey "strengthens and nourishes" their bodies, so be it.

At my house, no prayers. Period. Dig in, enjoy. No need to drag the white Mormon Jesus into it.

Most unfortunate about it all is that Mormons take offense at even the slightest thing. They are so used to being told what to do, when to do it, how to do it - when you get them outside their comfort zones, they get all tweaked out. I used to find it irritating, now I find it amusing to watch them squirm.

Mormons and boundaries. They have none. They expect you to comply with their belief and if you don't, why do you hate Mormonism so much?

Often with them you just have to treat them like children and set boundaries with them right away. If they take offense then that's their problem.

If Mormons come to your house for dinner do you let them say a blessing on the food?

[_stemelbow]

What's the olive branch you extend to them in your house? Do you randomly not pray when they come over? Do these people still believe in a God and is that why they don't care if there is a prayer in their house? I just don't have enough background here.

I don't even know where to go with this. Prayer is important, generally, to Christians. If you are having a meal with Christians and they'd like to pray I don't see the problem. Is it hurting anyone? One couple still believes in God the others do not. They don't feel slighted, I assure you, in the slightest. My olive branch always consists of sheer love and devotion to them as friends. We chat about them, their lives and what they enjoy thinking about and doing. Its a wonderful time.

Isn't Mormons coming over to your house and insisting that they have a prayer a little rude? I don't go to their house and insist we don't pray.

So your friends are insisting? I just think people don't think its putting anyone out if they pray. I suppose you can tell them, "you can't come overto my house and say a prayer. I suppose you can quietly secretly say one to yourselves but you can't say one out loud with each other." But that seems rude to me.

To put it in better perspective. Let's say I was apart of another religion that would pray to an idle before each meal. Is it not rude for me to bring my idle to my friends house and say that we have to have a prayer to this idle before we eat. I guess my friend could just sit quietly until I am done the prayer the the idle but it would be a little awkward. Really it's not my house and I shouldn't be doing my religious stuff in other peoples houses.

nevermind. Take my advice and my thoughts however you like.