------------
Our group found one indoor ride that was still open and the line was HUGE (since it was the only thing in the park running) We figured it was as good to stand in line as to stand anywhere else. I sat down on a bench for a bit of it since my head was trying to start hurting. This cute older gentleman sat down next to me and asked where I was from. After saying I was from Utah he immediately asked if I was Mormon. I smiled and told him I was. The next question out of his mouth was “So how many kids do you have!?” It made me laugh a little. He was surprised when I said I only had two. He asked “Don’t you believe in having lots of kids?” I simply shared that we do believe part of our purpose on earth is to have children but that the Prophet has said that we should do so within our means and abilities and my husband and I felt that two is what we could handle. He seemed to think that was a good answer and then proceeded to tell me about all the nice Mormons he has know. It totally made my day. It made me a bit sad that I didn’t have the opportunity to serve a mission before meeting Scott, but I know that someday I will get to share the gospel that way. Its so different having lived my whole life in Idaho and Utah. You just can’t share the gospel there the way you can outside of the LDS influenced area. I find it interesting how much religion there is here in the south. I have heard it called the ‘bible belt’ but didn’t realize quite how much a part of the culture it really is out here. there is a different church on every corner and each one is bigger and flashier than the last. There are all sorts of shows here in Branson touting ‘Gospel music’. It really is such a different culture than in Utah. Makes me have more understanding and respect for the confusion Joseph Smith must have felt trying to decide which church was true. There are so many religious choices here it would make your head spin to try and learn them all.
-------------
That's' it. Nothing too profound. Just a fun little experience that brightened my day and made me think a little harder about my beliefs and why I am part of the LDS church. It also made me SUPER excited for my former young women who are now out serving their missions!
I love traveling mostly because of how much I get to learn about myself and my own home. Things you never realized were even different anywhere else. At dinner my sis in law, Dawn, who is originally from the east was talking about the rice in the salt shakers. She was shocked to learn that we don't have to do that in Utah! She has lived there for several years now and has always put rice in her salt because that is what they have to do in the more humid areas. So funny to learn these little things that you never even thought of before!
