Has anyone else noticed that Mormons don’t seem to react to deaths like normal people do?

Question

They just seem to not be as affected by deaths of family members, family pets or close friends to the same degree as the average person. It’s just something I’ve noticed and I’m not sure if it just the Mormons I’ve met that are this way or all of them. I mean, it kind of makes sense – I don’t think it’s too presumptuous to say that those guys do believe in some pretty full on stuff.

Answer 1

This has been my experience, when my grandparents died on both sides, my parents didn't seem to mourn, and I realized I really didn't know them. They never really talked about themselves, like it was a secret about their lives, My dad never cried about both of his parents. Hes OCD for his benefit and will cry during testimony meetings, but not at the funeral. weird. My mom would not let me go to the gravesight of my grandfather, I thought that was weird.
When my mom died, I could see the green apron they put on the all whitle temple cloths. The bishop was acting stern at the veiwing and making his wife nervous, maybe I was the only christian and seemed so happy to see all the old ward members, I don't know. My dad was, again not happy, but not mourning either. When they put the lid on the casket, thats when I broke down. I was still happy to see all my anuts and cousins, since I hadn't seen them for years, since th earmy had moved me acrossed the continent, so it was hard to maintain a crying spell. I was back in the land of the jell-o salads of mormon land. But yes Mormons don't seem to react or seem stern at furnerals.

Answer 2

Well, it would kind of be hard to say one way or the other unless you're a covert to the Mormon Church who's experienced the deaths of loved ones both before and after your conversion (so you can make first-hand comparisons to how you reacted each time).

I'm a life-long Mormon, and yes, I've seen my share of deaths among family members, friends (from close to casual and everywhere in-between), and even pets. It's not very easy, even though I know they're in a better place and I'll get to see them again some day. But it's like what several others have commented on - many religions believe that if a person is good in life, after they die they go to a better place where they're free from mortal sorrows and pains, and that they'll get to see their loved ones again. Why grieve over that? Yeah, you can certainly feel sad that you're seperated from them for a period of time (I do!), but it can help to think that we're all on a sort of long trip, and they simply arrived at the destination before you did.

Answer 3

Im Mormon, and I think that about myself too.
Ive been to funerals and yeah everyone was bawling their eyes out. Maybe its a personality thing, but when my Nana or a close friend of someone I know dies, I dont get this huge shock. I dont know why, and I asked myself why sometimes. The answer is because life isnt just these 80 (or 18) years on this earth. Maybe the reason why we arnt `normal` is because we have a much wider perspective on life than many other people do. I know I will meet my friends and nana again, so its sad, but death is not forever... families are.

Answer 4

Ok...it's quite simple...because we believe that families can be together for time and all eternity, then we know that death is just a necessary step in the process. We also know that we will see these people again in Heaven as long as we live a life to make us worthy of entering Heaven.

Yes, we miss the person who is gone, and we cry just like anyone, but our beliefs help us get through our grief. As for pets, I cried like a baby when my dog died a couple of years ago.

Go to a funeral at a Mormon (LDS) church sometime, it isn't nearly as depressing as the average funeral. If I can help it, I don't attend funerals other than Mormon ones, WAY too depressing for my taste.

Answer 5

People are still sad when a loved one dies whether they're mormon or not. The reason for the sadness is different though. They don't have a fear for never seeing them again, they are only sad that it will be a while until they see them again. I have complete faith that when my time comes, I will join them in the spirit world and then hopefully live with them eternally. It is something I look forward too, not dread.

Answer 6

Mormon funerals are not 'eulogies' for the deceased, but a shameless proselytizing exercise to bring in more members. As Elder Packer stated in the 11/88 issue of the Ensign, "Many attend funerals who do not come to church regularly. They come subdued in spirit and are teachable. How sad when an opportunity for conversion is lost because a funeral is less than it might have been...."

What a bastard. Death is an opportunity to sell the unsuspecting a new car....

Answer 7

I don't react as others to family or friends' deaths, and I'm not religious at all. I usually shed a tear or 2, but days after everyone else.

Answer 8

ive been so close to dying so many times, i hope some day i will just stop breathing. in fact I think i have been rescucitated at least more than several times by the spirit world, 3 times of shocked by electric bolts at my feet, i think because i stopped breathing.
When people die, I usually dont shed tears. because i know there is an after life and a spirit world.

Answer 9

I'm LDS. I'm fortunate enough to have not lost too many loved ones in my life up to this point. But the ones that I have lost...I felt the same way anyone would. Brokenhearted.

Not sure why you separated Mormons and "normal people". Mormons aren't robots or zombies. We have feelings and emotions, too.

Answer 10

I'm mormon and I'm happy because I can't give you an answer to this question. Since I converted, I haven't seen a death. I'm thankful for that and I've never seen a Mormon react to a death because there hasn't been any death around thanks God.

But Mormons are not weird people. We are just like anyone else and we have feelings.