5 Things Mormons and How I Met Your Mother have in Common

Christopher Cunningham — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 13:29:05 +0000

1. Like Ted, Mormons love their kids.

Remember from HIMYM season 1, old Ted (Bob Saget) sat down his kids to tell them a story. Well Mormons love their kids too. According to Pew Research, a higher percentage of Mormons have children than any other faith. And like Ted, Mormons can find pretty creative means for punishment, as this story of a Mormon dad illustrates.

2. Like Lily and Marshall, Mormons are all about gender equality.

Marshall: Ok, I’m just saying that it’s my wedding too and I should have a say in it.

Lily: But I’m the bride. So, I win.

Marshall: But I thought marriage is about two equal partners, sharing a life together.

Lily: Right, but I’m the bride. So, I win.

The almost perfect marriage of Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) is based on their *almost* perfect equality. Mormons believe that God commanded gender equality. This approach works, with only six percent of Mormon temple marriages ending in divorce.

3. Like Robin Sparkles, Mormons have fun a little differently.

Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders) grew up as Canadian popstar Robin Sparkles where she had to tour malls across Canada singing her one hit “Let’s Go to the Mall,” and living on “Orange Juliuses and Wetzel’s Pretzels.” Mormons also have way too much fun, and if you ask them it’s in part because they avoid drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs.

4. Like Barney, Mormons love suits.

Well on Sundays at least. In How I Met Your Mother Season 5, Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) has to choose between a woman he wants to date and wearing suits. He picks suits. Mormons still wear their Sunday best (which is different for different people and places) to church each week, because they believe it’s a way to show their respect to God.

5. Like HIMYM, Mormons believe marriage takes forever.

Well maybe not exactly like HIMYM. It took How I Met Your Mother until Season 8 to introduce THE mother (Cristin Milioti). In the world of TV and sitcoms it certainly felt like it was forever. But for Mormons marriage literally takes forever. They believe Mormon temple marriages last throughout all eternity. See what Mormons are all about.