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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:


32 / 30 books. 107% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama (1)
- Alaska (1)
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (1)
- California (9)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut (2)
- Delaware (1)
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- Ohio (3)
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International:
- Argentina (1)
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- Canada (3)
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- England (21)
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- The Netherlands (1)

My Progress:


51 / 51 states. 100% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:


49 / 50 books. 98% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

My Progress:


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:


50 / 52 books. 96% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:


36 / 40 books. 90% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


18 / 40 books. 45% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:


26 / 25 cozies. 104% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

My Progress


22 / 26.2 miles (3rd lap). 84% done!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress


41 / 100 books. 41% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

My Progress:


97 / 109 books. 89% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress


52 / 52 books. 100% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

My Progress


130 / 165 books. 79% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:


83 / 100 names. 83% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:


10 / 80 skills. 13% done!
Thursday, May 12, 2011

Mormon Mentions: Diana Spechler

I haven't done a Mormon Mention in awhile, so let me quickly explain the concept: When a non-LDS author mentions Mormonism in a book, I highlight the comment here. Then, I explain my thoughts on it. Complex, I know. Really, it's just a fun way to look at how we Mormons are perceived out in the world. It also allows me to clear up any misconceptions about my religion, to defend myself, if needed, and to laugh about the (sometimes crazy) impressions Mormons make on other people.

In Skinny by Diana Spechler (reviewed here), one of the characters writes:

"And don't blame your fat on your religion. Yes, thirty percent of Southern Baptists are obese, and the Mormons deploy "wellness missionaries," and sure, I know the Jewish jokes - the jokes with no edge; the soft, plump, low muscle-tone jokes about Jewish mothers overfeeding their children and Jewish holidays revolving around food. But these are not excuses. Excuses are worthless" (84).

Frankly, I don't understand this line. Not the Mormon part, anyway. I think it's a joke. At any rate, I've never heard of "wellness missionaries." Has anyone else?

I will say that members of the LDS Church abide by a (fairly) strict health code known as the "Word of Wisdom." It prohibits us from taking harmful substances - coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol, lots of red meat, etc. - into our bodies. Although the code says nothing specific about soda (the "Word of Wisdom" was given in 1833), most church members abstain from drinking any caffeine at all. Naturally, we also stay away from illegal drugs, overuse of prescription medications, and anything else that might lead to addiction or damage to our physical/mental/emotional health.

Breaking this health code does not mean excommunication from the church, but most of us live it rather strictly, especially the coffee/tea/tobacco/alcohol part. Caffeine is another issue. For some of us, anyway. Not naming any names. Ahem. Maybe that's what the "wellness missionaries" are - a secret police force that storms Mormon pantries in search of Coke products. Let's hope not :)

5 comments:

  1. LOL! A secret organization raiding people pantries! I like that.
    I like that you do these posts, though, I'm always shocked to find out what some people think about mormons.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I assume they misunderstood the term "welfare missionaries" - sent to places where the living conditions are at a level that requires help meeting temporal needs before they can focus on spiritual needs.

    It does paint an amusing picture though...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm one of those Coke-drinking Mormons. I had better watch out for those wellness missionaries!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This was one of those posts that disappeared with the Blogger meltdown yesterday. It came back, but minus all of the comments that were made when it first posted. Boo. Feel free to re-comment.

    ReplyDelete
  5. How funny! I want to be one of those wellness missionaries- maybe it'll help me kick my own Coke habit. As in Coca-cola, or course.

    ReplyDelete

Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.

P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!

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2024 Reading Challenge

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2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction

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2020 - Middle Grade Fiction

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