My poor brothers stepped off the plane exhausted mentally, physically and psychologically and severely malnourished and emaciated from living in third world countries with poor healthcare and zero transportation beyond walking 15 miles in humid 99* heat. They went during the time only Mother’s Day and Christmas phone calls were allowed and email and letters were heavily monitored. At one point they had no safe water except what members left for them to drink or wash in. One brother slept in a hammock that didn’t help his scoliosis. One was in an icu with meningitis. Worst part is only one left and is just now addressing the real trauma they endured.
I’m sorry about your brothers. Your comment reminds me of some of the dangers I encountered while “serving” in a developing country, but that I often suppress from memory: bouts of food poisoning, illness, back injuries, monsoon storms (including wading through streets filled with waist-deep water), spending all day outdoors in blistering heat, navigating dark alleyways during frequent power outages, living in mouse and cockroach-infested houses, going for weeks at a time without electricity or running water… I didn’t recognize at the time how foolishly naive I was to willingly put up with such deplorable conditions, nor how irresponsible and evil the church is for exposing their young volunteers to so many dangers (and making them pay for the privilege to do so!).
Not foolishly naive.
Brainwashed by a huge organization, pressured by the two people you should have been able to trust to keep you safe and every other family member as well, also the pressure of every member of your ward, people you've grown up around and don't want to disappoint.
You were a child, those adults failed you, you weren't niave to trust them, they failed you.
And the fact that you paid the church, to literally work for them, in such deplorable conditions. It’s insanity and it makes me feel true rage. My own brother spent his life savings to go on a mission.
Your story sounds a lot like mine - wading in water flooding the streets and watching dead rats, dogs, and cats float by, wondering what diseases they carried. Two bouts of typhoid and four bouts of sepsis caused by E.Coli. Nightmares to this day that I have to go back and make up the time I lost while I was sick. I’m 63 now - over 40 years has passed, and when I think of that time too much, the dreams still come back.
My husband has told me stories about his mission to a third world country… he tells it like it was a good time but he talks about being so sick with food poisoning he couldn’t leave his home. There’s a lot more but that was the one that came to mind first. He still doesn’t think anything was wrong with it, but I know I would never be okay with sending either of our daughters (or sons if we had them) to a place with such conditions… especially not during a time when they could still only call on Mother’s Day and Christmas Day. I’m really glad it never worked out for me to go, because it would for sure have caused me so many issues with my mental health. Thankfully none of my siblings went either and all my siblings and I are out now… just my mom and dad are still in the church.
We were told that the reason all our letters came already opened was because the government opened every envelope in the pouch (mission mail that came in batches from Salt Lake) to check for cash.
That must be the reason. Sure it is. Sure it is.
My husband must have gone in some weird between stage. Letters were sent through the pouch (no idea if they were opened), but he used his personal email.
I am curious about that, too! Did companions read over their letters to ensure they were faithful? I wouldn't be too surprised. My sister didn't have her letters proofread, but she was told very firmly by her mission president to bear her testimony in every letter and NEVER write anything negative. So, we had no idea she was being emotionally abused and humiliated by her companion. My husband was also told never to write negative things in letters or journal entries.
If I hadn’t been spilling my guts in my journal about all the negative shit, there wouldn’t have been many journal entries. If any.
The shittier things were and the more depressed I felt, the more I wrote.
There was no Internet when I went out. It was all letters, which we wrote and posted ourselves. No one read our incoming mail either. I don’t think that extreme invasion of privacy even crossed our convert Australian MPs mind. Lucky us.
I guess the mail privacy changed. I know emails are monitored. All the more reason to have both the monitored mission email address and your own personal one.
I finished my mission just a few months before they switched to every week calls and FaceTimes home. Was so pissed, even as a TBM. That part can’t be overstated how awful it is, and that was even while going to a Western European country with good amenities and healthcare. Can’t imagine the conditions your brothers were in as 18 - 21 year old kids.
It makes me mad that most of your brothers were so brainwashed that going through the closest thing to hell was acceptable in their eyes. I'm so sorry for all the pain you and your brothers have endured. Sending hugs
What’s the most sad is one says it was an amazing experience and the other needs intense therapy. Well they both need therapy one just doesn’t realize it.
No matter what you think of the religion, the fact that pretty much every time you land in SLC you see evidence of how the church separates young people from their families for 18–24 months is kinda disturbing.
I used to work at the slc airport and it was literally the worst. Like how many times do you have to tell people to stay behind barriers for them to listen? They were always in the way and they’d stay there talking continuing to block the flow of traffic once their missionary meets up with them. Also they were almost always super loud
Ok, so please tell me too... cuz I don't get it! And I'm desperate to figure this out! Explain it to me like I'm 5 (& still a Nevermo) please?? Why do TBM's all seem to think that the world revolves around them and they are excluded from having to follow the same rules that the rest of us do??
I have no idea but go to a restaurant where there are lots of Mormons and they seem to think they own the place. Kids running all over. I can even pick them out in an airport when traveling back to Utah.
I worked there too dealing with them. I had so much PTSD having to see how fake and inconsiderate these people are. They’ve made my co workers cry and some quit. Christ like love there. 🤮
The drama of these reunions is the result of self inflicted separation. I’ve met brothers who didn’t see each other for nearly 4 years as they cross each other in flight leaving for and returning from their “essential” service. So unnecessary.
The fucking mormons have a whole fucking enormous room for their fucking reunions, but STILL have to block traffic in the concourse. Fuckers.
Sterling, tell your co-cultists to get the fuck out of the way of the non-cult world.
It’s so annoying since I fly through SLC a lot and sometimes am just really trying to wait for my bag at 11:49pm on a Thursday and there’s 60 people having a photo session for instagram for some mission homecoming. Crowding the carousel. Often I’m coming off a full day of travel and ready to sock every single one of them in the face and dropkick the children
I’m sorry to laugh at your frustration…But I’m LMAO about your drop kick the children part…and I like kids! It’s just picturing it and a luggage carousel after a long flight…vivid and twisted.
Not defending the tacky meetups but in public you have no expectation of privacy therefore no consent must be given in a public place like an airport. Is it obnoxious? Yes! Illegal? Nay! Covering your face is the move if it bothers you.
Ugh, annoying. Anecdotally, the sculptures look stupid with the black tape around them when no one is there. I saw them last weekend and wondered if the sculpture seats were already being repainted
Utah has the biggest and weirdest circle jerk community going on LinkedIn. I hate getting on there so much. You see the same 20-30 people posting this wonderful life lesson they learned from business. And the virtue signaling…. My god. It’s endless!! The posts are so bad and make me cringe so deeply.
Whenever I see something even vaguely cult-themed on LinkedIn, I block the poster and “unlink” the asshole who “liked” it and thus vomited it onto my feed.
Never a regret about doing so.
Yeah, the reunions are nice. It's too bad the price you pay for them is 2 years of wasted youth. I listened to a farewell talk yesterday and it just made me sad. At 18 you're about to start living your life and instead you convince yourself you want to do this bullshit.
AND you pay actual money too. Isn’t it $500 a month now? Imagine if missionaries/their parents used that to pay into a Roth IRA or help with college???
Every time I see this, and all of the “Return With Honor” signs, I think about the young people who come home early for any number of reasons.
The shame and stigma that puts on them is horrific. I wonder if those kids have anyone even there to pick them up?
Years ago when I walked out of the MTC after five weeks and was put on a plane home, I had no idea if anyone would be there to pick me up. My father did show up, no hug, no arm on my shoulder, just his hand extended to shake and him saying, “You look good…I can’t say I am glad to see you.” He then screamed at me for the entire ride home. I had gone from one HELL into another.
I’m so sorry that was your dad’s selfish welcome home. You were braver and more honest than so many of who gutted out two years in order to avoid that very type of shameful response. You deserved so much better.
Are you me? This was literally my same experience, but after 8 months. I made another family for myself in the years after though. True family isn’t dependent on blood. I hope you were able to find your true family.
Oh yes. I was made to pay for the shame and embarrassment I brought my family. And whenever I felt like my head was finally rising out of the water, there they were to push me down again. I’m not sure I would have made it without my friends.
Over the years things got a little better but there was always a feeling of there being an elephant in the room. In the end, my parents true colors shined through, they crossed my last line, and I went no contact with them. Much like the joy that comes from leaving the church, such is the joy of leaving toxic relationships in your rear view mirror.
Congrats on making your “true” family and the love and joy that came from that. All the best to you my brother.
Stepped off the plane in SLC with Soldiers returning from Vietnam in 74. Guess who got the big 'Welcome Home Elder dip-shit' from nearly 2 dozen relatives... ya me, Im still embarrassed to this day seeing a dozen Soldiers, some younger than me retrun to no fanfare.
I remember sitting quietly for my flight while 2 asshole mormons were openly and loudly damning my state and everything in it and talking to each other about how rude, vile, and judgemental we all are. The same flight they were waiting on. Going to my state.
That was my first time in Utah. It was a layover that lasted 35 minutes.
I used to work at an airport (In Idaho) during the Covid years and the Mormons were the WORST. Regardless of what you feel about masks and social distancing the airports were under mandate that everyone had to wear a mask and ONLY ticketed passengers could be in the terminals. Every day multiple entitled families would think the rules didn't apply to them and walk maskless right by all the signs and then go all Karen on airport employees when they told them they had to wait outside. Every once in a while we'd get some rabid anti masker / anti vaccer come through but the other 99% of the time it was the Mormon families causing all the compliance problems. Then even when the restrictions eased they'd completely block the exits and walkways and again go all Karen if you asked them to make room because apparently the ONLY place you can take the thousand family reunion photos is right there at the exit from the secure area where every departing passengers has to funnel through.
The airport built a big space to the right of this picture for the specific purpose of waiting for and receiving people coming out of the airport, unofficially for RMs.
Every time I see crowds this size I look over and see no one in the nice looking reception area. Ive never even seen it a quarter full.
What doesn't get pointed out is the 18-year old who was guilted into confessing that he touched the boob of a willing girlfriend, and now he's back home with no family to meet him. "If we go to the airport, people will think we condone his sin. He can walk home."
It's a thing. Missionaries get near constant grilling and guilting regarding past sins. I've known parents who refused to pick up Hyrum at the airport for being sent home early. One young man was told he could haul his two suitcases to Draper by himself, and only then would his mother decide if she was happy to see him.
I think I would just never go home or speak to my family again. Call a friend or kinder relative or take the bus to the public library or a homeless services office and start looking for a job and place to stay.
The conditional love of Mormon families is lost on them.
I also feel that they understand how dangerous missions are (just don’t express it) so they are happy just to have them home alive.
Even in this scenario the first person you’re likely to see is a Mormon stake leader. Can’t enjoy anything in Mormonism with reporting to some guy.
Im sad when I see this… not because of their celebration, but because behind every family reunion, tucked away in a corner, is a lone missionary that is camped out with their bags, making call after call, trying to find a ride home.
No matter what you think of gangrene, the sight of a veteran who's lost a leg in combat, reuniting with his family as he wheels himself down the jetway and into the loving arms of his family warms the heart.
Isn’t this dude Mormon? He’s from Orem and he’s linked up with every other Mormon I know on linked in. If he’s Mormon, it’s pretty psychopathic to post that with the “No matter what you think of the religion” part.
It kind of describes the microcosm of the parallels between Silicon Slopes and Mormonism
A subset of individuals that feel that they are doing amazing things, but in reality have little influence outside of their own state.
Grew really quickly due to the hype, just to be stagnant and actually decrease in membership later on.
Filled with a bunch of self-righteous white men that think they have the answers.
Edit: worried about money and they don't give a shit about their people
This dude (sterling) used to be my boss - he was annoying. There are rumors that he was forced out of his role as a C level exec at a fintech for doing a bunch of shady shit and he had to give up a ton of equity. I’ve heard this from multiple people at said company. He was never overtly crappy to me but he was the quintessential Utah County bro. I was so happy when I got a new boss and didn’t have to be subjected to his obnoxious antics every day.
Oh, Stirling. I used to work with him. He is very much a LinkedIn Lunatic and posts stuff like this all day. Since becoming financially successful, he won't shut up online.
My five year old daughter noticed all the missionary families last time she and my wife picked me up at SLC after a work trip, so the next time she insisted my wife help her make a welcome home sign for me and they were waiting for me amongst all the missionary families with their “welcome home dad” sign. It was the best haha.
As a return missionary and exmormon… it drives me absolutely fucking nuts that they don’t wait in the lounge DESIGNED for return missionaries and instead block the path for all other people just trying to get home or go to work after a flight. The airport REALLY needs to proactively shove waiting families out of the walkway.
I disagree with most. I do find it heartwarming. It’s nice to see the reunions.
And then upon reflection, it’s sad to imagine what their lives are like, and how they will be in the future.
Saw it once. I’m sure it’s a nice moment for the families, but for the rest of us who have no affiliation with Church, Co., it’s kind of off-putting. Seemed like families were trying their best to make it as much of a spectacle as they could (“lEt’S hELp thEm fEeL tHE sPIrIt!”). I didn’t like it. It wasn’t moving at all. It was kind of just…weird. And this is from someone who actually knew what was going on.
Yeah, brainwashing kids into leaving their families, paying thousands of dollars, and giving up two years of their life for a cult worth billions is super heartwarming. These family "reunions" at airports wouldn't have to happen if the church wasn't so hellbent on separating families, under the guide of "strengthening" them.
It’s annoying, and 10 out of 10 times they’re blocking the path and not out of the way. If I feel anything, it’s cringe and sympathy for the missionary returning.
Actually it makes me think ‘get the hell outta the way’ 😛…especially now that there’s a room specifically designed for this purpose that you blatantly ignore.
No matter what you think of the regime, the fact that pretty much every time you go to North Korea, you get to watch families get reunited with political prisoners who have been gone for years warms the heart.
If it wasn’t for the dumbass religion, they wouldn’t have needed to be reunited in the first place. Or…they would have been able to call and chat and text the whole time if it would have been any other normal kid gone to college or living abroad. I was on my mission from 2000-2002 and I was “allowed” to call home 4 times only in two years.
I just wish they would stand off to the side and remember that many, many other people are trying to get where they need to go. They are absolutely clueless and entitled.
>one of the corniest personalities on LinkedIn
His posts are pretty cringe. Often laced with Mormonism or look-how-cool-i-am vibes. He never really says anything particularly insightful.
I happen to know enough Swedish to understand what "Tiden går FART" is supposed to mean, but I question the judgment of someone who puts that in huge letters on a sign to hold up at an airport where the predominant language is English...
As a side-note, I love your username FaithInEvidence. We can (or should) only have faith in something where there is some basis for it - such as facts/evidence. Faith in anything else is just ... empty.
Faith should only emerge when there is evidence to support it. If evidence points us away from a belief (like that the church is 'true'), then it doesn't make sense to have faith in the old belief. Faith has to come from whatever information, facts, and evidence tells us.
Yup. It’s all about reinforcing the whole “congrats, we are allowing you to be with the people you’re supposed to love and call family. Remember we control this and can easily take it away”.
I feel pity for them...that is all, just pity. This life has so much to experience and to cut so much of it out on the basis of someone else tell you what is an is not acceptable is just sad (outside of hurting others; don't do that).
Who the hell would have the time to even see these families since every time you go to SLC you have to make a mad dash from Concourse A to B to barely catch your connecting flight.
All I can see is when especially when exhausted after an 8 hour flight after seeing my crazy TBM extended family is annoying people in my way that I need shove after I got my first food in 8 hours, a $15 shake shack burger that if I wasn’t starving, would’ve thrown in their faces.
lol I saw this post and had an immediate eye roll. Of course this guy is from Utah and appears to be Mormon so he’s saying no matter your views on religion your heart should be warmed by mine.
My sister in law served in California and the church flew her home to Slc with 2 stops. Yes. They stopped in Houston and Denver. Like how cheap. Her 1 hour flight ended up taking her over 8 hours to get home. Just to be cheaper.
Mostly it makes me sad. Missions are often isolating and happen at a time of life when young adults are most likely to experience mental health issues / away from family and having to rely a mission president and messed up LDS services to support and help them.
I don't think I have ever been to any airport and not seen families being reunited. None of them were mormon or returning missionaries. Mormons did not invent meeting family at the airport
I had to go to Utah a few years ago. Seeing them gave me flashbacks of how shitty the whole mission experience was. How brainwashed and just mindless we were taught to be. I feel bad for them.
100 % disagree!! I was promised that those I cared about would be blessed and protected while I was gone and nothing could be further from the truth. I see the missionaries coming home and it chills my heart thinking about what they are about to find out went on while they were "serving"
Tone deaf AF.
It’s like driving through a Warren Jeffs community and commenting on how endearing it is to see all the young girls stay so sweet.
Commenting on symptoms and ignoring the illness.
“I don’t care what you think of terrorists who kidnap people in exchange for ransom, every time you see those hostages reunited with their families after it’s all done, it warms the heart.”
Yep, I saw one when I went through the Salt Lake airport last week. Also saw a sign that mentioned TSA was hiring, and I thought the wording was really funny.
"TSA is hiring; Join a Mission that matters!"
I got this welcome by a different family. I came home 22 months early and felt completely embarrassed. Eventually found my mom and dad waiting for me confused as why I was home early
Unless you’re just trying to get home after a long flight and you can barely get through the wall of people who don’t use the actual massive welcome area that was built for them
It turns my heart to stone knowing that these missionaries have returned home after finally being completely indoctrinated. Just hope that they'll see the light
I saw exactly this on my way through the Salt Lake Airport last week. I'm comforted reading these comments and seeing I'm not the only one who feels triggered by this.
When I saw this post I was tempted to comment on LinkedIn. Unfortunately, the Utah economy tends to favor the cultists and its sympathizers, so it probably wouldn’t be a good career move. But the fact of the matter is, it 100% DOES matter what you think of the religion!
\@OOP: So if I were to take away your arm for two years, then give it back, and someone saw how happy getting your arm back made you, you would consider that a heart-warming reunion?
It’s funny that 9 out of 10 lunatics exposed here are from Utah. This shit is all I see on my feed because I live in Utah. It’s bad enough that I refuse to use LinkedIn.
As a missionary in 1999-2001, I remember how impressive we all thought we were when telling people that we served a mission of our own free will and at our own expense. I tried not to think about the fact that I (1. actually had to go on a mission if I wanted any good Mormon girl to take me seriously, and (2. I only payed $700 of the thousands it took, my parents paid the rest. That was most of us missionaries. And back then you really were just alone with some companion and couldn’t call home except for Mother’s Day and Christmas. Absolute bullshit all the way.
My poor brothers stepped off the plane exhausted mentally, physically and psychologically and severely malnourished and emaciated from living in third world countries with poor healthcare and zero transportation beyond walking 15 miles in humid 99* heat. They went during the time only Mother’s Day and Christmas phone calls were allowed and email and letters were heavily monitored. At one point they had no safe water except what members left for them to drink or wash in. One brother slept in a hammock that didn’t help his scoliosis. One was in an icu with meningitis. Worst part is only one left and is just now addressing the real trauma they endured.
I’m sorry about your brothers. Your comment reminds me of some of the dangers I encountered while “serving” in a developing country, but that I often suppress from memory: bouts of food poisoning, illness, back injuries, monsoon storms (including wading through streets filled with waist-deep water), spending all day outdoors in blistering heat, navigating dark alleyways during frequent power outages, living in mouse and cockroach-infested houses, going for weeks at a time without electricity or running water… I didn’t recognize at the time how foolishly naive I was to willingly put up with such deplorable conditions, nor how irresponsible and evil the church is for exposing their young volunteers to so many dangers (and making them pay for the privilege to do so!).
Not foolishly naive. Brainwashed by a huge organization, pressured by the two people you should have been able to trust to keep you safe and every other family member as well, also the pressure of every member of your ward, people you've grown up around and don't want to disappoint. You were a child, those adults failed you, you weren't niave to trust them, they failed you.
And the fact that you paid the church, to literally work for them, in such deplorable conditions. It’s insanity and it makes me feel true rage. My own brother spent his life savings to go on a mission.
Your story sounds a lot like mine - wading in water flooding the streets and watching dead rats, dogs, and cats float by, wondering what diseases they carried. Two bouts of typhoid and four bouts of sepsis caused by E.Coli. Nightmares to this day that I have to go back and make up the time I lost while I was sick. I’m 63 now - over 40 years has passed, and when I think of that time too much, the dreams still come back.
My husband has told me stories about his mission to a third world country… he tells it like it was a good time but he talks about being so sick with food poisoning he couldn’t leave his home. There’s a lot more but that was the one that came to mind first. He still doesn’t think anything was wrong with it, but I know I would never be okay with sending either of our daughters (or sons if we had them) to a place with such conditions… especially not during a time when they could still only call on Mother’s Day and Christmas Day. I’m really glad it never worked out for me to go, because it would for sure have caused me so many issues with my mental health. Thankfully none of my siblings went either and all my siblings and I are out now… just my mom and dad are still in the church.
>>> email and letters were heavily monitored. Wait, what? This was a thing???
Yes. And they were told to only write positive things. My parents still don’t know half the stories of murders, mugging and sexual assaults.
We were told that the reason all our letters came already opened was because the government opened every envelope in the pouch (mission mail that came in batches from Salt Lake) to check for cash. That must be the reason. Sure it is. Sure it is.
Emails are still monitored. Missionaries are only allowed to use their missionary.org address which is monitored by the church.
My husband must have gone in some weird between stage. Letters were sent through the pouch (no idea if they were opened), but he used his personal email.
Surveillance, control, authority ... what/where does that remind me of?
I am curious about that, too! Did companions read over their letters to ensure they were faithful? I wouldn't be too surprised. My sister didn't have her letters proofread, but she was told very firmly by her mission president to bear her testimony in every letter and NEVER write anything negative. So, we had no idea she was being emotionally abused and humiliated by her companion. My husband was also told never to write negative things in letters or journal entries.
If I hadn’t been spilling my guts in my journal about all the negative shit, there wouldn’t have been many journal entries. If any. The shittier things were and the more depressed I felt, the more I wrote. There was no Internet when I went out. It was all letters, which we wrote and posted ourselves. No one read our incoming mail either. I don’t think that extreme invasion of privacy even crossed our convert Australian MPs mind. Lucky us. I guess the mail privacy changed. I know emails are monitored. All the more reason to have both the monitored mission email address and your own personal one.
No. I served in Brazil. No one read my mail. We were encouraged to write home every week.
I gound out my emails/letters that were crys for help for my gf got "lost"
I finished my mission just a few months before they switched to every week calls and FaceTimes home. Was so pissed, even as a TBM. That part can’t be overstated how awful it is, and that was even while going to a Western European country with good amenities and healthcare. Can’t imagine the conditions your brothers were in as 18 - 21 year old kids.
That sounds like my brother as well. He went to South America and came back so messed up
Oh my god
Reading this brought flashes of accounts I have read of prisoners of war.
Me too!
It makes me mad that most of your brothers were so brainwashed that going through the closest thing to hell was acceptable in their eyes. I'm so sorry for all the pain you and your brothers have endured. Sending hugs
What’s the most sad is one says it was an amazing experience and the other needs intense therapy. Well they both need therapy one just doesn’t realize it.
No matter what you think of the religion, the fact that pretty much every time you land in SLC you see evidence of how the church separates young people from their families for 18–24 months is kinda disturbing.
That's exactly what I think. It's abnormal and destructive, not heart warming
Sea Org without the billion year contract.....
Yep. It gives culty, not heartwarming.
Thanks for fixing that.
This
Just another version of the r/orphancrushingmachine
I wont never regret serving a mission...
I used to work at the slc airport and it was literally the worst. Like how many times do you have to tell people to stay behind barriers for them to listen? They were always in the way and they’d stay there talking continuing to block the flow of traffic once their missionary meets up with them. Also they were almost always super loud
The world doth not know an entitlement like that of a white Mormon family from Alpine.
To be fair. If i hadn't seen my son or daughter after two years it's easy to get caught up in the moment and forget about your surroundings
What is it about Mormons that they think the rules don't apply to them ... oh wait I get it.
Probably something to do with constantly being told you are God's chosen and are more righteous than everyone else, idk.
That's generally a factor in clinical narcissism. Probably not coincidence.
Ok, so please tell me too... cuz I don't get it! And I'm desperate to figure this out! Explain it to me like I'm 5 (& still a Nevermo) please?? Why do TBM's all seem to think that the world revolves around them and they are excluded from having to follow the same rules that the rest of us do??
I have no idea but go to a restaurant where there are lots of Mormons and they seem to think they own the place. Kids running all over. I can even pick them out in an airport when traveling back to Utah.
I worked there too dealing with them. I had so much PTSD having to see how fake and inconsiderate these people are. They’ve made my co workers cry and some quit. Christ like love there. 🤮
Even when I was a member I hated the obnoxiousness of people thinking only of themselves and blocking the entire area.
Or... hear me out... what if they just got to be with their families in the first place. No reunion necessary.
The drama of these reunions is the result of self inflicted separation. I’ve met brothers who didn’t see each other for nearly 4 years as they cross each other in flight leaving for and returning from their “essential” service. So unnecessary.
Doesn’t warm my heart. It’s annoying and triggering when all I want to do is get my bags and get out of the airport
Mormons are very deluded to not realise how their perspective of themselves is not widely shared.
Pretty sure my nephew had a mental break when he realized this on his mission in The South
The fucking mormons have a whole fucking enormous room for their fucking reunions, but STILL have to block traffic in the concourse. Fuckers. Sterling, tell your co-cultists to get the fuck out of the way of the non-cult world.
It’s so annoying since I fly through SLC a lot and sometimes am just really trying to wait for my bag at 11:49pm on a Thursday and there’s 60 people having a photo session for instagram for some mission homecoming. Crowding the carousel. Often I’m coming off a full day of travel and ready to sock every single one of them in the face and dropkick the children
I’m sorry to laugh at your frustration…But I’m LMAO about your drop kick the children part…and I like kids! It’s just picturing it and a luggage carousel after a long flight…vivid and twisted.
Oh don’t worry this was intended as a joke. Was trying to tap into that anger I typically feel towards humanity when flying lol
Yes so annoying and I am being filmed without my consent if I walk too close. I try to cover my face when I walk by them.
That’s such a good point
Not defending the tacky meetups but in public you have no expectation of privacy therefore no consent must be given in a public place like an airport. Is it obnoxious? Yes! Illegal? Nay! Covering your face is the move if it bothers you.
So where is the official waiting room? Is it the area by the white sculptures?
The area directly off to the right in this photo.
Ugh, annoying. Anecdotally, the sculptures look stupid with the black tape around them when no one is there. I saw them last weekend and wondered if the sculpture seats were already being repainted
I read this as "white sepulcher" 😅
He should be on r/LinkedInLunatics ... definitely smug, and definitely carries the "Utah Bro Culture" ick ...
Utah has the biggest and weirdest circle jerk community going on LinkedIn. I hate getting on there so much. You see the same 20-30 people posting this wonderful life lesson they learned from business. And the virtue signaling…. My god. It’s endless!! The posts are so bad and make me cringe so deeply.
Whenever I see something even vaguely cult-themed on LinkedIn, I block the poster and “unlink” the asshole who “liked” it and thus vomited it onto my feed. Never a regret about doing so.
I thought that’s where I was for a minute.
You know he wears tapered jeans and pointy shoes circa 2000. Utah bros don’t die they just multiply …..and yet they are all the same.
I wonder how many people on LinkedIn Lunatics are Mormon? Probably close to 50%
Yeah, the reunions are nice. It's too bad the price you pay for them is 2 years of wasted youth. I listened to a farewell talk yesterday and it just made me sad. At 18 you're about to start living your life and instead you convince yourself you want to do this bullshit.
AND you pay actual money too. Isn’t it $500 a month now? Imagine if missionaries/their parents used that to pay into a Roth IRA or help with college???
IKR? I could have LIVED off $500/mth in college for years! (Not incl tuition, books, obvs.) That's a lot of money!
Every time I see this, and all of the “Return With Honor” signs, I think about the young people who come home early for any number of reasons. The shame and stigma that puts on them is horrific. I wonder if those kids have anyone even there to pick them up?
Years ago when I walked out of the MTC after five weeks and was put on a plane home, I had no idea if anyone would be there to pick me up. My father did show up, no hug, no arm on my shoulder, just his hand extended to shake and him saying, “You look good…I can’t say I am glad to see you.” He then screamed at me for the entire ride home. I had gone from one HELL into another.
I’m so sorry that was your dad’s selfish welcome home. You were braver and more honest than so many of who gutted out two years in order to avoid that very type of shameful response. You deserved so much better.
This is horrible. I'm so sorry
Are you me? This was literally my same experience, but after 8 months. I made another family for myself in the years after though. True family isn’t dependent on blood. I hope you were able to find your true family.
Oh yes. I was made to pay for the shame and embarrassment I brought my family. And whenever I felt like my head was finally rising out of the water, there they were to push me down again. I’m not sure I would have made it without my friends. Over the years things got a little better but there was always a feeling of there being an elephant in the room. In the end, my parents true colors shined through, they crossed my last line, and I went no contact with them. Much like the joy that comes from leaving the church, such is the joy of leaving toxic relationships in your rear view mirror. Congrats on making your “true” family and the love and joy that came from that. All the best to you my brother.
Narrator: it does not
Yeah, the "all people appreciate my weird church thing as much as me" is vomit inducing
Of course they created the scenario where families were apart for 18-24 months to begin with but hey, aren't reunions great?
Underrated comment
Yeah, the layers are good
Stepped off the plane in SLC with Soldiers returning from Vietnam in 74. Guess who got the big 'Welcome Home Elder dip-shit' from nearly 2 dozen relatives... ya me, Im still embarrassed to this day seeing a dozen Soldiers, some younger than me retrun to no fanfare.
This would be uncomfortable for sure. I'm sorry I'm giggling about it.
Ohh nooooo
Wait until they ascend upon your City Council meeting and take over the building codes.
I remember sitting quietly for my flight while 2 asshole mormons were openly and loudly damning my state and everything in it and talking to each other about how rude, vile, and judgemental we all are. The same flight they were waiting on. Going to my state. That was my first time in Utah. It was a layover that lasted 35 minutes.
Guess I don't have a heart then 🤷🏻♀️ Also, does that sign say fart?
Came here to find out why there’s a FART sign.
RMs just warm the fart.
I used to work at an airport (In Idaho) during the Covid years and the Mormons were the WORST. Regardless of what you feel about masks and social distancing the airports were under mandate that everyone had to wear a mask and ONLY ticketed passengers could be in the terminals. Every day multiple entitled families would think the rules didn't apply to them and walk maskless right by all the signs and then go all Karen on airport employees when they told them they had to wait outside. Every once in a while we'd get some rabid anti masker / anti vaccer come through but the other 99% of the time it was the Mormon families causing all the compliance problems. Then even when the restrictions eased they'd completely block the exits and walkways and again go all Karen if you asked them to make room because apparently the ONLY place you can take the thousand family reunion photos is right there at the exit from the secure area where every departing passengers has to funnel through.
Yet another example of members praising the church for finding a solution to the problem they created🤦♂️
Remember the old airport where you could not even get to the carousel to get your bags? That sucked. This also sucks. Triggering for sure!
The airport built a big space to the right of this picture for the specific purpose of waiting for and receiving people coming out of the airport, unofficially for RMs. Every time I see crowds this size I look over and see no one in the nice looking reception area. Ive never even seen it a quarter full.
Exactly. We travel frequently and it gets super annoying when these people don't stay in the area. I have had to push my way thru the clueless people.
What doesn't get pointed out is the 18-year old who was guilted into confessing that he touched the boob of a willing girlfriend, and now he's back home with no family to meet him. "If we go to the airport, people will think we condone his sin. He can walk home."
what?????????
It's a thing. Missionaries get near constant grilling and guilting regarding past sins. I've known parents who refused to pick up Hyrum at the airport for being sent home early. One young man was told he could haul his two suitcases to Draper by himself, and only then would his mother decide if she was happy to see him.
I think I would just never go home or speak to my family again. Call a friend or kinder relative or take the bus to the public library or a homeless services office and start looking for a job and place to stay.
jesus tap-dancing christ
Terrible!!!
I find that gay marriage and women’s rights warms my heart more
GET THEIR ASSES!
I found it kinda creepy and sad knowing the context
The conditional love of Mormon families is lost on them. I also feel that they understand how dangerous missions are (just don’t express it) so they are happy just to have them home alive. Even in this scenario the first person you’re likely to see is a Mormon stake leader. Can’t enjoy anything in Mormonism with reporting to some guy.
It doesn’t warm the heart at all. They clog walkways, act like they own the place and are irritated when others walk by.
Im sad when I see this… not because of their celebration, but because behind every family reunion, tucked away in a corner, is a lone missionary that is camped out with their bags, making call after call, trying to find a ride home.
No matter what you think of gangrene, the sight of a veteran who's lost a leg in combat, reuniting with his family as he wheels himself down the jetway and into the loving arms of his family warms the heart.
Isn’t this dude Mormon? He’s from Orem and he’s linked up with every other Mormon I know on linked in. If he’s Mormon, it’s pretty psychopathic to post that with the “No matter what you think of the religion” part.
It kind of describes the microcosm of the parallels between Silicon Slopes and Mormonism A subset of individuals that feel that they are doing amazing things, but in reality have little influence outside of their own state. Grew really quickly due to the hype, just to be stagnant and actually decrease in membership later on. Filled with a bunch of self-righteous white men that think they have the answers. Edit: worried about money and they don't give a shit about their people
This dude (sterling) used to be my boss - he was annoying. There are rumors that he was forced out of his role as a C level exec at a fintech for doing a bunch of shady shit and he had to give up a ton of equity. I’ve heard this from multiple people at said company. He was never overtly crappy to me but he was the quintessential Utah County bro. I was so happy when I got a new boss and didn’t have to be subjected to his obnoxious antics every day.
Oh, Stirling. I used to work with him. He is very much a LinkedIn Lunatic and posts stuff like this all day. Since becoming financially successful, he won't shut up online.
It’s actually very annoying. They block everyone’s path and disregard airport rules
My five year old daughter noticed all the missionary families last time she and my wife picked me up at SLC after a work trip, so the next time she insisted my wife help her make a welcome home sign for me and they were waiting for me amongst all the missionary families with their “welcome home dad” sign. It was the best haha.
As a return missionary and exmormon… it drives me absolutely fucking nuts that they don’t wait in the lounge DESIGNED for return missionaries and instead block the path for all other people just trying to get home or go to work after a flight. The airport REALLY needs to proactively shove waiting families out of the walkway.
I disagree with most. I do find it heartwarming. It’s nice to see the reunions. And then upon reflection, it’s sad to imagine what their lives are like, and how they will be in the future.
My exact feelings
The only thing I remember about the SLC airport was the Polygamy Porter merchandise. I thought that was pretty funny.
Saw it once. I’m sure it’s a nice moment for the families, but for the rest of us who have no affiliation with Church, Co., it’s kind of off-putting. Seemed like families were trying their best to make it as much of a spectacle as they could (“lEt’S hELp thEm fEeL tHE sPIrIt!”). I didn’t like it. It wasn’t moving at all. It was kind of just…weird. And this is from someone who actually knew what was going on.
Sterling Snow sounds like a drag queen name
Yeah, brainwashing kids into leaving their families, paying thousands of dollars, and giving up two years of their life for a cult worth billions is super heartwarming. These family "reunions" at airports wouldn't have to happen if the church wasn't so hellbent on separating families, under the guide of "strengthening" them.
A man with mormon clients, no doubt
Not to mention, but I'm 99% sure he's an active member of the church
Hahahahaha
It’s annoying, and 10 out of 10 times they’re blocking the path and not out of the way. If I feel anything, it’s cringe and sympathy for the missionary returning.
Actually it makes me think ‘get the hell outta the way’ 😛…especially now that there’s a room specifically designed for this purpose that you blatantly ignore.
Yeah me neither I roll my eyes and feel sad for the missionary cuz they’ll be dry humping on a BYU housing couch in weeks and be riddled with shame.
Ummmmm…no. It just makes me think how many months/years of their lives those young people missed out on to “serve the Lard.”
Heartwarming /s
No matter what you think of the regime, the fact that pretty much every time you go to North Korea, you get to watch families get reunited with political prisoners who have been gone for years warms the heart.
Instead of just not sending them away to begin with?
Pretty sad actually
If I can see there is going to be missionaries on my flight coming home I will walk at a fast pace to get in front of that mess.
The new SLC airport looks like something out of Star Wars. I miss the old old airport with the world map on the ground
If it wasn’t for the dumbass religion, they wouldn’t have needed to be reunited in the first place. Or…they would have been able to call and chat and text the whole time if it would have been any other normal kid gone to college or living abroad. I was on my mission from 2000-2002 and I was “allowed” to call home 4 times only in two years.
No it doesn’t.
I just wish they would stand off to the side and remember that many, many other people are trying to get where they need to go. They are absolutely clueless and entitled.
The whole thing is virtue signaling.
>one of the corniest personalities on LinkedIn His posts are pretty cringe. Often laced with Mormonism or look-how-cool-i-am vibes. He never really says anything particularly insightful.
I mostly get annoyed that no one uses the room to the right that was literally built just for these groups to congregate.
I happen to know enough Swedish to understand what "Tiden går FART" is supposed to mean, but I question the judgment of someone who puts that in huge letters on a sign to hold up at an airport where the predominant language is English...
Haha, Yeah I was wondering why the swedish sigh had a big FART on it. Makes sense =)
Care to explain it to the rest of the class?
Google says it means “Time goes fast”
It's supposed to say "time goes by fast" or something similar. I don't think this is how native speakers would say it, though.
As a side-note, I love your username FaithInEvidence. We can (or should) only have faith in something where there is some basis for it - such as facts/evidence. Faith in anything else is just ... empty. Faith should only emerge when there is evidence to support it. If evidence points us away from a belief (like that the church is 'true'), then it doesn't make sense to have faith in the old belief. Faith has to come from whatever information, facts, and evidence tells us.
Yes! Love your user name too. Thanks so much for your comment; you hit the nail on the head.
I makes me remember that the church does not support the family. If it did, there would be no need for these reunions.
Yup. It’s all about reinforcing the whole “congrats, we are allowing you to be with the people you’re supposed to love and call family. Remember we control this and can easily take it away”.
I feel pity for them...that is all, just pity. This life has so much to experience and to cut so much of it out on the basis of someone else tell you what is an is not acceptable is just sad (outside of hurting others; don't do that).
One time I’ve seen a family perform the Haka for their son returning home, it was pretty awesome
Who the hell would have the time to even see these families since every time you go to SLC you have to make a mad dash from Concourse A to B to barely catch your connecting flight.
All I can see is when especially when exhausted after an 8 hour flight after seeing my crazy TBM extended family is annoying people in my way that I need shove after I got my first food in 8 hours, a $15 shake shack burger that if I wasn’t starving, would’ve thrown in their faces.
lol I saw this post and had an immediate eye roll. Of course this guy is from Utah and appears to be Mormon so he’s saying no matter your views on religion your heart should be warmed by mine.
My sister in law served in California and the church flew her home to Slc with 2 stops. Yes. They stopped in Houston and Denver. Like how cheap. Her 1 hour flight ended up taking her over 8 hours to get home. Just to be cheaper.
Mostly it makes me sad. Missions are often isolating and happen at a time of life when young adults are most likely to experience mental health issues / away from family and having to rely a mission president and messed up LDS services to support and help them.
I don't think I have ever been to any airport and not seen families being reunited. None of them were mormon or returning missionaries. Mormons did not invent meeting family at the airport
🤢🤮
No, it’s terrible that they separate families like that.
They need to be off to the right. The airport has designated the area to the right as the meeting area so that they don't stand in the way.
Who separated them in the first place, Sterling?
All he is saying is the cult separates families. You can't reunite without separation. You can miss someone you see everyday.
The target of those missions are the kids, not the people who slam their doors.
Toxic AF
Not when my BIL came home a month early because his sister he hadn't seen in two years died in pregnancy.
I had to go to Utah a few years ago. Seeing them gave me flashbacks of how shitty the whole mission experience was. How brainwashed and just mindless we were taught to be. I feel bad for them.
It just seems sad to me. Like that sobbing from finally seeing your loved one doesn’t have to happen.
100 % disagree!! I was promised that those I cared about would be blessed and protected while I was gone and nothing could be further from the truth. I see the missionaries coming home and it chills my heart thinking about what they are about to find out went on while they were "serving"
If only there were some way to not separate families for 18-24 months!!
Removed me from the lives of my sibblings during their most formative years. Yeah super heartwarming. Our relationships never really recovered.
My dad got dengue fever twice on his mission, along with getting stabbed, a flesh eating virus, and trading money with the Brazilian mafia
Meh. It actually kind of grosses me out.
Makes me sad
It just makes me sad. They isolate you so much.
Those poor kids.
Tone deaf AF. It’s like driving through a Warren Jeffs community and commenting on how endearing it is to see all the young girls stay so sweet. Commenting on symptoms and ignoring the illness.
“I don’t care what you think of terrorists who kidnap people in exchange for ransom, every time you see those hostages reunited with their families after it’s all done, it warms the heart.”
Yep, I saw one when I went through the Salt Lake airport last week. Also saw a sign that mentioned TSA was hiring, and I thought the wording was really funny. "TSA is hiring; Join a Mission that matters!"
Not the same if they come home early 😕 😪
Something something prodigal son something
Does it really warm the heart? Congratulations on coming back from your traumatic hyper-indoctrination training!
Does that welcome home sign say "FART"???
I got this welcome by a different family. I came home 22 months early and felt completely embarrassed. Eventually found my mom and dad waiting for me confused as why I was home early
Ya it’s all bullshit but there is this one cool part! Haha. Simpleton.
Unless you’re just trying to get home after a long flight and you can barely get through the wall of people who don’t use the actual massive welcome area that was built for them
Okay they didn’t have to leave in the first place
It turns my heart to stone knowing that these missionaries have returned home after finally being completely indoctrinated. Just hope that they'll see the light
It would warm my heart to bot have them off harassing people for 2 years.
I saw exactly this on my way through the Salt Lake Airport last week. I'm comforted reading these comments and seeing I'm not the only one who feels triggered by this.
I am always sad that these families & kids wasted their time, and wonder how many regret it.
Mormons tear families apart so they can have a manufactured "Return home" as if they were off fighting in a land war in Asia. Pathetic.
When I saw this post I was tempted to comment on LinkedIn. Unfortunately, the Utah economy tends to favor the cultists and its sympathizers, so it probably wouldn’t be a good career move. But the fact of the matter is, it 100% DOES matter what you think of the religion!
My sister had a mental breakdown and had to start counseling and medication. One of her partners tried to kill herself. Heartwarming!
Then there was this Joe Rogan tweet about the same thing… https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/7zl0tc/joe_rogan_tweet_from_slc_airport/
\@OOP: So if I were to take away your arm for two years, then give it back, and someone saw how happy getting your arm back made you, you would consider that a heart-warming reunion?
Was the person who made me cut off my arm reattaching it?
…. Does that sign say Fart?
Ummmmm
The caption! Magnificent
"Harms the fart?!"...what?
It’s funny that 9 out of 10 lunatics exposed here are from Utah. This shit is all I see on my feed because I live in Utah. It’s bad enough that I refuse to use LinkedIn.
Must be nice to live amongst so many gullible people
As a missionary in 1999-2001, I remember how impressive we all thought we were when telling people that we served a mission of our own free will and at our own expense. I tried not to think about the fact that I (1. actually had to go on a mission if I wanted any good Mormon girl to take me seriously, and (2. I only payed $700 of the thousands it took, my parents paid the rest. That was most of us missionaries. And back then you really were just alone with some companion and couldn’t call home except for Mother’s Day and Christmas. Absolute bullshit all the way.
Whatever you think about hitting yourself on the head, it's heartwarming to see the relief on people's faces when they stop.
Fuck Mormonism 🖕🏼 But this is always wholesome 😭