Are We Amish?

Are We Amish?
If you have been a member long enough you are bound to have been asked if you were Amish. If you are not a member you might want to know if we are Amish. Nope we are not. We might or might not be an offshoot of the Mennonites though (nope we are not).


Many non-members do not think anyone thinks Mormons are Amish. I like to say your lack of knowledge on a subject does not negate my knowledge. I don’t know Calculus or if Bigfoot exists (actually as well all know he’s Cain) but that does not mean they don’t.
One reason that many people think Mormons are Amish is when the film Witness came out in 1985 many international versions called the Amish Mormon. I have known many missionaries even decades later find that this is still a problem in the country they served.
Even in the US we get questions all the time about things that sound like they think we are Amish. People ask if we own, drive, can ride in, or allow women to use cars. They even ask if we can only own certain colors of cars (Yes white of course unless you work for Mary Kay).


All kinds of electronics seem to be verboten. I can understand why some people would think we do not watch TV’s, movies, or play video games. They probably knew members that did not allow their children to do these things or limited what they could use. Some parents are strict about exposing their children to possible negative influences in the media but that is not a religious requirement and most Mormons in America have at least one TV (or a Holoprojector).
One of my favorite true stories was someone sent an email to a friend asking if Mormons could use computers and the Internet. I would have responded, “No. Don’t tell anyone you ever got this message.”


Some other Amish sounding things we can’t do include dancing, using makeup, shaving, not shaving, or using mirrors. I guess they think we are vampires too.

If you have ever had someone ask you if you were Amish or any of these Amish related questions feel free to send this article and the below video link to them. Also feel free to comment below with your own Amish related questions you have either been told or want to ask if you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint.



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