Buffet Mormon

[Anonymous]

I embrace the title “Buffet Mormon”. I read an article of John Dehlin’s discussing this idea and have thought quite a bit about it since then. Nothing I’m going to say here is original, but I just felt that it would be helpful to put it in own words, mostly for my benefit.

The church/doctrine/Mormonism/gospel (not going to try to define these separately right now, although I realize it’s not really fair to lump them together) is a giant buffet. I’ve always known that I could never eat everything. Now I am aware that I don’t even have to want to eat everything. In fact, there is no main course that everyone must eat. Every Mormon can step up to the table and eat as much or as little as she pleases. Just in the last day or two, it has really dawned on me that just because I don’t eat as much the guy next to me, I’m still of no lesser value as a Mormon.

This is a real epiphany for me, so I’ll repeat this (many of you have probably figured this out long ago). My value as a Mormon, the quality of my experience, the joy of my practice, the meaning of my spirituality has nothing to do with me trying to eat the whole buffet.

There are items on the spread that I enjoy. There are other dishes, both past and present that make me nauseous. I eat what I like, and I don’t feel guilty for what I don’t. Today, I’m taking back my Mormonism.

My name is Greg. I’m a husband, a father, a medical student, and a wannabe mountain man. And I’m a Mormon.

[Anonymous]

Congrats! Welcome to the buffet, and the journey!

[Anonymous]

I love it, Greg!

Speaking of Mountain Man-ing, I was over with my dad last Saturday making coals with hand drill and bow drill friction. He’s awesome, and he’s quite the mountain man.

[Anonymous]

Welcome. In the last year, I realized I was a Buffet Mormon — however, my buffet-ism is limited to non TR commandments, such as moving, attending Stake training/priesthood meetings that harp on the same principle I learned and committed to years ago, and other time wasters….I’m sure everyone has their own list. Even our Stake President has his own list — I know because he was a member of my quorum when I was a HPGL a while ago.

So, welcome to the club — everyone is a buffet Mormon on some level.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the conscious and purposeful realization!

Two quick additions:

1. Mormonism is wonderful because it is a HUGE buffet. Seriously, is there a bigger buffet than “all truth” wherever you might find it? Also, you can check out other buffet restaurants and see if they have dishes you like too.

2. You can’t in fact eat it all. The harder you try, the sicker, slower, sleepier and more bloated you become.

A buffet is “all you can eat!” not “you can eat all!” The word order is very important… 🙂

MtnMan wrote:

just because I don’t eat as much the guy next to me, I’m still of no lesser value as a Mormon.

I prefer to take a slightly different, more positive view. The guy next to me might just look like he is eating more. Maybe they are, maybe they just look like it. I am not really all that concerned to judge. But just because someone walks by with their plate piled higher than mine doesn’t mean they are actually eating it.

MtnMan wrote:

Today, I’m taking back my Mormonism.

AWESOME! [CHEERS!!!]

[Anonymous]

Brian Johnston wrote:

A buffet is “all you can eat!” not “you can eat all!”

I think “all you care to eat” is the current and politically correct phrasing. Seems to fit the analogy.

Welcome, Greg.

[Anonymous]

I think it tastes better when I take what I love, and not feel obligated to “eat” what I don’t like.

Much more satisfying and enriching to my soul, and that’s what the gospel is about, isn’t it?

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, the Mormon buffet. I visit it often. Little secret, you can take certain things previously plucked from the buffet to your plate, and return them to the buffet, if you realize they are less appetizing than you thought. Also, you may decide you like “turnips,” and pick them as a late entry to your plate. Buffets are often open for extended hours… it’s all good.

[Anonymous]

An excellent post! This is exactly describing me and my husband. I am actually going to be baptized into the Mormon Church next month (by my husband). My husband is a life-long member who had been inactive for 25 years, since his mission ended in 1988. He was a buffet Mormon all along and didn’t know it. He thought it was all or nothing, so he had left the church. But he missed aspects of the church and always believed in God and the restored gospel. So now I’m actually going into the Church being a buffet Mormon, and my husband has now become active in the church again and we are both very happy! This site is awesome!

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