Lucky for the LDS participants, rhinomelon is much more gracious about disagreement than I am. He would never make fun of someone for such a hopelessly callow response.

That MAD thread might be the most frustrating conversation I have ever read. And also funny.

“Things are way different in different cultures! Like my Hawaiian bishop says, ‘Aloha!’ and we all say it back!”

Still laughing over that one…

I am glad this forum is here and wish those of you with heavy hearts and problems the very best and I will keep you in my prayers too.

As for myself, I will have surgery to remove a tumor which is located just behind my right ear canal, and which is wrapped around a bunch of nerves and stuff. The surgery is scheduled for 6am Monday 11/23/09. I will be in the hospital for 1-3 nights and then be home recovering for 4 to 6 weeks. I would be most gratefull for your faith and prayers on behalf of my family and I as we go through this together.

Thank you and may God bless you too.
Michael

Actually, some aspects of LDS culture — such as wearing Sunday best to go to church and the emphasis on children — fit in well with Latin American culture. According to what I’ve been told, the main countercultural clash involves the treatment of women, especially in areas where machismo remains strong; teachings that husbands should treat their wives with respect and as equal partners don’t go over too well. Also, religion is often seen as a woman’s thing, so getting men involved in church activities can be a problem. Or so I was told during my most recent trip south.

My husband’s been to meetings in France, but it’s not like there’s anything stylistically about French culture that would make sacrament meeting all that different.

I know someone who was a mission president in South Africa whom I could ask, but I kind of don’t want to. Last time I asked him a question he pretty much ignored it and took a shot at trying to convert me.

There was a discussion of this on the MAD board a couple of years ago, here. There’s several anecdotal accounts of Sacrament meetings in other countries being exactly the same. Only one person insisted that the Fijian Sacrament meetings are different, and he declined to give any specifics.

The only wards I have attended were in Australia and, honestly, Australians aren’t all that different from Americans, except that they eat kangaroos and emus, and they have a much better variety of lollies and biscuits than we have hear.

I agree .. for those that haven’t checked out an EO service, I highly recommend it. It gives you an awe and appreciation for the mystery of God. Definitely on Easter Sunday.

http://www.holytrinity.info/ just in case you were wondering.

Mick