So we go into the appointment and I'm looking around for any signs of them being Mormon. My first sign was the picture of her and her husband on their wedding day - the key is that she was wearing a long sleeved wedding dress. Even though this is unusual it still wasn't a tell-tell sign. The next sign was the picture of Jesus that was hanging right by the kitchen table. Sure many people have pictures of Jesus Christ in their homes but usually only Mormons tend to have Greg Olsen prints. But again not a sure sign because I did meet a woman on my mission who wasn't a member but had a painting that usually only Mormons have. The next sign was because I was paying very close attention I saw what could be garments on the mother. She wasn't being immodest but I was looking very closely. But again I wasn't positive because I only saw a very slight bit of white. Next I was looking around the den and I saw what looked like the Proclamation to the World with pictures of their family around it but it didn't have the title on it and I didn't get to look close enough to see what it actually said. By this point I'm pretty sure they are Mormon but not positive. I was so tempted to just ask the mom but I figured that that would be considered unprofessional etiquette. The final sign was as we were leaving I looked on the wall and there was a framed copy of The Living Christ. Then I knew my suspicions were right. As this was happening I was thinking how weird it was to have randomly go to a Mormon families' home for an appointment.
Well then we continued on to our next appointment - I'm still amazed that the last one was Mormon but what are you gonna do. Well we get to the next appointment and the mom lets us in. As we walk in I see a sign on the wall that says "Families Are Forever". This again is a very Mormon saying to have up in your home. So once again I start looking for signs. The first one I saw was the mom's garments - her shirt had come up a little bit in the back and I could see them. The next was again a Greg Olsen looking picture of Jesus Christ hanging over the fireplace. Then as I looked closer to the books that were on the fireplace I saw that the titles were talking about being disciples of Christ and then one of them was Gordon B. Hinckley's biography. The next sign was their wedding day picture - she was wearing long sleeves. Then next to the picture was a little glass temple with a gold angel Moroni on top. By this time I knew she was a member. Again I couldn't say anything but I did happen to drop the fact that I went to college in Utah. So she may have suspected that I was a member but again not professionally accepted.
What are the chances that 2 of the families that I would happen to observe would be Mormon - even stranger that the 2 of them were on the same day. I felt like I was back in Utah where you assume everyone is Mormon. Those have been the only 2 Mormon families that I have visited (or at least I think) and I've visited quite a few now. It has made me look around each home I go to just to see if I can see any signs that they are Mormon. What else it made me realize is how unique we are as a people. The families didn't have to say anything but I could tell by the atmospheres in their homes and a few key decorations that they were members of the Church. It made me resolved to surround my future home with those things that really matter, such as pictures of Christ, temples, The Proclamation to the World, The Living Christ, and so many other uplifting pictures and decor. Hopefully then when others come into my home they will be able to know that I am a Mormon just like I noticed with these families.
