This section of dialog shows that you can't just make assumptions. While the majority of the Mormon families I know in my area have larger families, I also know at least one Mormon who drinks beer and is still single in his 40s. The only reason I know any of them are Mormon are because I went to school with the guy and the other people told me they were Mormon.

You do such a good job with these posts!

This is very enlightening, thanks Susan.

Thank you for that. I had not read another post by you about Mormons so it was a surprise to me.

I have met several Mormon families (mainly in the Scout troup my boys attended), some of them had large families, some of them only small ones, just like in my church (I'm Catholic). They were all lovely, family devoted people.

I'm looking forward to reading more posts like this. Thanks for doing it.

I didn't find this passage derogatory at all, actually. If anything, I think it's complimenting the fact that Mormons value children and that they practice what they preach in terms of following the Word of Wisdom. I get that people might find these concepts odd, though, so I can laugh at passages like this when I hear them. Also, growing up in a big family, I heard ALL the jokes, so I've got a thick skin :)

On the other hand, I agree with you about stereotypes. Even if they're based in truth, they can be harmful and upsetting. We absolutely need to be careful in allowing them to be perpetuated.

Yes, the Osmonds are well-known Mormons! The Sister Wives thing makes me roll my eyes. Polygamy has not been practiced in the mainstream LDS Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) since the 1800s. The groups that do practice it are splinters and not associated with the mainstream church. I do have polygamist friends (they weren't polygamists when I met them - that happened later) who were on one of those shows, though - it's such an odd lifestyle! Even though I do have ancestors who practiced polygamy as early members of the Church, I'll still NEVER understand it.

I absolutely loved the Osmonds when I was a teenager, especially Donny who was around my age. I think they did a lot for the image of the Mormons, at least in Germany where there are hardly any that one knows.

And as to stereotypes, they are just disguised prejudices. There are lovely people everywhere, in every nation and every race, and also awful ones.

My older sister and I were OBSESSED with The Donny and Marie Show. When my mom was pregnant with our younger sister, she asked us what we wanted to name her. We decided on either Wonder Woman or Marie - guess which one Mom picked?? LOL

And who can blame her? LOL

Unfortunately, that show didn't run in Germany but I loved them nonetheless. We had a youth magazine that published "puzzles", every week a new page with part of a star. I had Donny. Look here.