For the most part I believe the replies to your post were from women in and out of the churdh. This reply may have a different slant on things that you asked. Why? I am a guy. The only pressure I feel is to be good enough to deserve the beautiful things of Christ. First and formost the Priesthood. Doing the things needed to hold the Priesthood is rewarding in it’s self.

My children are gone but I do have two beautiful grandaughters that I try hard to do right by them. Being a male I can’t comment on pressure that the sisters may feel, I only can say how good it is to be among women that are as the sisters are. My wife has given me more than I thought women to have. A woman that is close to our Heavenly Father is a treasure, regardless of her faith. The work that the sisters do in the church and what I think it must be like to have a child, makes me glad I am priesthood holder.

Being close to our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, I feel, is the cause of our looks. When you see someone that is happy, they do look pertty. All Mormons including this one, wish the good feelings we have of our heavenly Father for all people.

What ever faith we may be, lets join hands and thank God for giving us His love and beautiful creations.

If you have got this far, you know that all mormons are not good at spelling. Sorry for that, May God bless all.

I’m a convert to the Church. That means I wasn’t raised in the Church. In fact, I’ve only been a member about 19 months now. My perspective is likely to be different from other members as a result.

I don’t know the Mormon culture very well. I’m still learning more and more of the gospel daily.

But, here’s my viewpoint:

You ask – Is Mormonism as good as it looks?

Not sure how it looks to you. Seriously I don’t know who you know or how the represent Mormonism. I’ve known fabulously generous examples and bigoted prejudiced examples of Mormonism. It’s important to remember that we’re all humans and we’re all flawed. Some flaws are very obvious and some are well concealed.

You ask – What do you think is the best non-religious aspect of being Mormon?

For me being Mormon is all religious based because I’m not part of the “culture”. It’s about following Christ and his teachings. About striving (even though I fail continually) to be his light unto the world.

I suppose a non-religious aspect could be trying to constantly improve myself. It’s based in religion, but others could adapt it without following the gospel.

You ask – What practices and traditions from Mormonism do you think would most benefit the average American housewife or mother?

Assisting our children and families in being the best that they are able to be. Accepting them as they are and yet helping them to realize their individual potentials.

Listening and interating with our children. Knowing them and spending quantity time with them.

You ask – Do you feel there is pressure to be “perfect?”

In my ward (congregation for non-Mormons) there is pressure to present a perfect image. There is a fair amount of gossip and there is pressure to meet all sorts of silly cultural standards that are in actuality not gospel based.

What thing that annoys me to no end is the idea that we must wear cosmetics, fashionable clothing, and be pretty.

I was a bit taken aback by your comments about Mormon women being pretty because there is a lot of pressure to present a certain physical image, then I realized there are lots and lots of pretty women who are Mormon and perhaps some are your friends.

You wrote – How does that differ from pressure on other American women?

It differs only in that at least the Mormon pressure comes primarily from a basis of caring about grooming and health.

I think the Mormon culture has taken true doctrine and in some areas distorted it to an ideal that is unhealthy.

You wrote – How is it similar?

It’s similar in that American culture shows women how they should dress, act, etc. and Mormon culture does the same.

You wrote – And yes, how do you do it without caffeine? No, seriously?

I never used caffeine before I joined the Church so I can’t help you out there!

I can tell you that my husband just switched his addiction to coffee to a Diet Coke addiction.

Many, many Mormons still ingest caffeine, the form just differs from the primary American choice – coffee.

And, yes, ice cream is part of the secret Mormon diet

While I don’t know about being an American woman or mother, I know about being an Aussie woman and Mum so will answer accordingly =)

I think the best non-religious part of Mormonism for women is the community. All different ages, races, abilities, interests, experience come together with one common belief. From that sparks and generates friendships and relationships that simply don’t have the fertile ground to spring from in ‘modern life’.

I find that as an LDS female, the idea of “perfect” is clung to by members of the Church, almost in denial and contradiction to what our teachings, scriptures and leaders tell us. It seems to me that the things we feel pressure most to be perfect in are not the same as non-LDS pressure points, namely there is a perceived pressure for getting and staying married and having children. Anything less is ‘failure’, and a feeling of being disconnected from the ‘norm’, whereas in general Aussie culture those things are just seen as ‘life’ and ‘choice’.

Thankfully we Mormons are a ‘peculiar people’ so being different from the norm tends to work for me!

And my caffeine replacement is humour, though that may just be me =)

I’m gonna pipe in here and say that maybe you could find out when a gathering is taking place in your area. You don’t have to be committed to convert or anything to go — just see if they can let you know when they are having a Relief Society gathering or a ward activity to give you a chance to make some friends.

If you were in my area, you could be my buddy at our next activity!