This conversation is based in part on the book Understanding Your Mormon Neighbor, by Ross Anderson. 

Mormonism makes a big deal about families. You can’t understand life as a member of the LDS Church without factoring in the strong emphasis on family. This family focus is laudable. It’s a great way to establish common ground with your LDS neighbors. But how Mormons approach family starts with a big difference from traditional Christians…

The Family Is the Way to Salvation 

• Many LDS values re: family are similar to traditional Xian values
• But at heart of LDS view of families is a different world view
• Families are the center of their Plan of Salvation
• Universe is organized along family lines
• Heaven an extension of home life on this earth
• Thus “Families are Forever”
• Family is the basic unit of exaltation
• Essence of exaltation = reproduce family life eternally
• This explains the emphasis on genealogy
• Connect families backward / forward in time

Family Structure

• Father is the leader of home → as the one holding the authorized priesthood
• Baptize children / ordain sons to priesthood offices
• Give a blessing when sick or at crossroads of life
• One structured activity = Family Home Evening: weekly family time
• Religious lessons / fun activities
• Many LDS families also have a weekly “business meeting” - prayer & planning
• If you live in Utah → explains why historically sports teams don’t practice on Monday pm, etc.
• Other common practices reflecting value of family…
• Reunions are big
• Emphasis on family history: records / journals
• Families do genealogy together / share results

LDS Families Are Busy

• Service
• Worthy members give huge amt of time & energy in service
• Each involved in a calling in the local ward
• Regional church service projects → like welfare farm
• Doing genealogy
• Temple work for ancestors
• Baking casseroles for neighbors
• Helping needy in their community, and more
• Children are involved wherever possible
• However, Mormon parents are kept so busy with service callings / meetings
• Often LDS feel like emphasis on family is contradicted by lack of time to spend with family
• Sabbath keeping
• Active LDS honor Sabbath by not working unless necessary
• Sundays reserved for church attendance & family time
• Eating out, shopping, movies, similar → discouraged
• Bc they require others to work on Sunday
• Standards are loosening in younger generations
• Still → in Utah, when 4th of July falls on a Sunday
• Many towns reschedule patriotic celebs for Sat pm
• Explains why your LDS neighbors might not accept an invitation to dinner on Sunday, etc.
• Don’t mow your lawn on Sunday
• Values = Mormon worldview defined by principle of progression toward exaltation
• Produces a drive for achievement & advancement
• Coupled with “can-do” attitude and strong work ethic
• Again, the family is the key environment for cultivating these personal values
• Personal righteousness
• Mormons speak of this as “worthiness”
• The most compelling motive driving daily life in culture
• Worthiness is generated by obedience
• Children are to obey parents
• At baptism, new members make covenants to obey God’s commandments
• Ward members expected to obey leaders → “magnify their callings”
• All of this is modeled in the family
• Is expected of family members as appropriate to their age

If your LDS neighbors are too busy to hang out with you, this explains why. Family and church come first. 

But family life is also a great way to develop common ground, by talking about parenting challenges or by spending family time together.