Mormon Battlion Ettiquete

Last week I and a small group of my most dedicated Confederate friends joined the ranks of a Mormon Battalion unit. There were people as far away as Southern California and Michigan. Despite our most best efforts, (when it got hot our efforts may have been on the mediocre side of best) I fear we failed to make many friends. Still they were all very nice, so I made a list of things that may make Mormon Battalion reenactors uncomfortable.

1. Don't ever shout "I've got the gun the killed old Joe Smith and it's loaded for Bringham Young" even if it is part of a riveting tale about how you were recently hired to play the part of one of the fellows who arrested and/or shot Joseph Smith. Out of context it sounds a little shocking.

2. If one of your ranks uses a product forbidden by the most recent interpretation of the Word of Wisdom seconds before the parade begins and another Battalion Member says "The Battalion didn't used tobacco" don't go into a lecture of the history of the Word of Wisdom. If you can't help yourself consider leaving out the portion about Bringham Young's use of chew.

3. If one of the the California's happens to criticize your state's politics or culture, just ignore it. Don't point out they elected a Governor who choose to star in Kindergarten Cop, Eraser and Junior as this has been pointed out to them on a number of occasions.

4. If your are asked what calling you have if you say "Less Active Specialist", they will ask what that is and not laugh when you tell them that you stay home from church and watch TV in order to better understand the less active mindset. Its not because they don't have a sense of humor . It is because the joke just isn't that funny.