Do you want to spend time with your Mormon family without talking about Mormonism? Does it seem their lives are so absorbed by the church that they don’t know how to have non-religious conversations?
It may take some work and planning, but you can invite your family members to tell you more about how they see themselves and what makes them interesting as a human being. While your family member may still mention the church, the questions below are designed to keep the focus on your family member—not Mormonism.
Try taking a few of these questions with you to your next family gathering and see what happens.
38 Questions to ask when you don’t want to talk about religion
- Which animated (or fictional) character would you want to spend the day with and why?
- Tell me about one of your childhood friends. What silly things did you do together?
- Describe a time you remember being embarrassed. What happened and what did you do to recover?
- What kinds of things make you laugh? What’s the funniest joke you know by heart?
- What’s one of the most ridiculous things you’ve purchased?
- What would I be surprised to learn about you?
- What do you often forget to do?
- What is one of the scariest things you’ve done?
- Tell me about a fiction book you loved reading and why you enjoyed it.
- What foods bring you comfort or joy?
- What songs hit you with a wave of nostalgia every time you hear them?
- What do you think are your hidden talents?
- Tell me about a time you felt especially brave. What did you do?
- Tell me about a time you accomplished something that you didn’t think you could do.
- If you had more children, what would you have named them?
- What was the biggest challenge you faced in the workplace? [Or as a stay-at-home parent?]
- Tell me three things you like about yourself.
- What three words would you use to describe yourself?
- What three words would you use to describe me?
- What’s your favorite season and why?
- Name one thing you’d like to change about yourself. What do you think would be different if you made this change?
- What do you remember most about your relationship with your grandparents (or great-grandparents)?
- Tell me about a time you got mad about something that shouldn’t have upset you.
- How did your parents discipline you as a kid? Tell me about a time you got in trouble.
- Tell me about a time in your life that you had a surgery or got really sick.
- If you could choose to have one superpower, what would it be and why?
- Name three things about men or women that don’t make any sense.
- What have you searched about on Google this week?
- Name a product that shouldn’t exist.
- Tell me about some of the cutest (or most amusing) things you’ve heard kids say.
- If you could eliminate any word from being used, what would it be?
- If you could add any word to the English language, what would it be?
- Who do you go out of your way to be nice to and why?
- What is the most expensive thing you’ve broken?
- What’s something everyone looks stupid doing?
- What are the unwritten rules elderly people seem to follow?
- What’s the funniest thing you’ve said or done when you were tired?
- What’s the best thing about being your current age?
