Don't really know if this is a pro or a con

But there's a man who's becoming a bit of a fixture in town. I first noticed him a few weeks ago while I sat at a red light on Main Street and heard someone shouting. This guy crossed the street in front of me, shouting about we must repent to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ.

My first thought: "????"

My second thought: "Please please please don't let this guy be Mormon."

My third thought: "Aw crap. He so is."

I know because I caught a glimpse of his garment bottoms peeking out from the leg of his shorts. My note to all LDS males who wear shorts: Make ye not the same mistake. It's disrespectful and sloppy and not at all an attractive basketball-playing look. And I can't believe that you guys don't get more grief for that when you're trying to lecture us about one-strap backpacks. Anyway.

I've noticed the Shouting Preacher a couple more times since then, always standing off Main Street and shouting at the cars that pass. On Monday he actually made his way into the local paper. I would link to the article but I can't find it online. Seems the good people of The Herald Journal don't really to want you to read their articles unless it's on that one day and you're holding or at least subscribe to the print version. Oh yeah. They're winning me over.

The basic gist of the article is that this gentleman is from Latin America and that he was difficult to interview because his answers tended to consist entirely of quotes from the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I've sat in Sunday School classes next to people who do that, so I can imagine a bit of what that reporter was going through. So most of the quotes in the article come from other people who know him or have been told by him that they're going to hell. Some people called the cops about him, but the cops pointed out that even in Utah we have that little thing known as the First Amendment, and so as long as the guy isn't threatening anyone he can stand and shout as long as he wants. Other people have phoned in, concerned that he might need professional help or welfare services. I don't think he has a job, on account of I've seen him out preaching at all times of the day.

I don't really know what to make of it. I feel bad for the guy because I'm sure it's likely that he has a couple of screws loose. And it's slightly uncomfortable to be shouted that I need to repent. I mean yeah, it's true, but does he have to yell about it? And it's also just kind of funny and one of those quirky things you just have to shake your head at. I bet the guy's bishop is tearing his hair out over this one. But really, what can anyone say?

"Um, you look like a nutter and that's really not the image we're going for right now. Yeah, it was okay for Noah and them to do stuff like this but could you please tone it down? What if you just do the yelling in your head? Would that work?"

Posted in: being a Mormon,Utah