“You’re not just an RM, you’re an LDS RM, who’s trained at the MTC who became a DL a ZL, and an AP, who was promised long ago by his bishop through a PPI after BYC that someday he’d be the EQP. I smell GA!”

Vernacular such as this from “The RM” can be confusing, but those familiar with LDS culture can appreciate its comedic value. Movies like “The RM” and “The Singles Ward” riff the idiosyncrasies of LDS culture and BYU’s student body, of which 98 percent is affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

However, for the other 2 percent, those movies are an illustration of how different the BYU world can be. From living an honor code that doesn’t always match up completely with their belief system, to finding out the true meaning of “every member a missionary,” those not affiliated with the Church can find BYU to be both a frustrating and gratifying experience.

Nathan Freystaetter, a freshman from Florida, became interested in coming to BYU after watching a BYU vs. Utah game on television. After the game he looked into what the school had to offer.

“I noticed that it had one of the top business schools in the nation,” Freystaetter said. “That interested me because I wanted to go into finance.”

After researching more about the university, Freystaetter said the Honor Code played a big part in helping him make his decision to come to BYU.

“Knowing that I would be on a sober campus was a great plus because that’s how I lived in high school,” he said. “There were a lot of people where I lived that did drugs and alcohol and I always tried to avoid them. Not having to worry about any of that gives me a lot of relief.”

Andres Mallipudi is another who chose to come to BYU although not affiliated with the LDS faith. His father, also not an LDS member, graduated from the school back in the 1970s and encouraged him to look into it.

“My dad said it was a good school and inexpensive,” Mallipudi said. “After looking into it BYU just seemed like I would be able to focus more.”

Mallipudi had exposure to the LDS faith growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, because his mom was interested in religions and often had the missionaries over. He said he remembers missionaries helping him out with school work and doing little projects around the house.

He said that missionary spirit among members of the Church is evident when he reveals he’s not a member of the LDS faith to someone on campus.

“They get really excited they are going to get to save your soul,” Mallipudi said. “Their eyes get super big, or they try to contain themselves, and then they get really quiet and try to tip toe around it until they can try and stab in their testimony.”

While he said he isn’t opposed to invitations to Church functions, sometimes the missionary efforts can get out of control.

“There was one kid who did the whole ‘I challenge you’ thing and shook a Book of Mormon in my face,” Mallipudi said. “Another kid in my chemistry class got my number to study and then met with me for lunch and bore his testimony for 45 minutes. … ‘Every member a missionary’ is such a strong thing here because everyone is Mormon, but then when they find someone that’s not, they’re like, ‘Oh I can change that.’”

Prashanta Shreseha, a graduate student from Kathmandu, Nepal, said the only thing he knew about Mormons before coming to BYU was what he saw on a “South Park” episode. He too said he has felt the pressure that comes from overzealous proselytizing.

“I’ve met a couple people like they are almost stalking, being too persistent,” Shreseha said. “Like every time they see you they bring it [the Church] up and keep dropping by.”

Shreseha said the first year was tough because of the commitment of everyone to the same beliefs.

“At first it’s hard because they have a different way of life and it’s hard to fit in,” Shreseha said. “Also, the fact that they would do anything for the Church was a little intense for me.”

Mallipudi added that some parts of BYU culture are just uncomfortable for those not affiliated with the Church because of assumptions based on LDS religious beliefs.

“I have to hide myself from people and blend in,” Mallipudi said. “Like wearing underwear and being 20 years old and having to make sure that I’m not showing that I’m not wearing garments. I had to leave campus when I was a 20-year-old, just so I would avoid questions as to why I’m not on a mission. I’ve tried saying that I haven’t gone on a mission, but the shame is just way too great that I have to break down and tell them I’m not LDS.”

Jim Slaughter was called to be BYU’s university chaplain seven years ago and said he has seen many struggle in their first year adapting to the culture.

“Culturally, that first year is kind of difficult, getting used to being around so many people of the same church and sometimes the proselytizing of students can be a great experience but can also be an uncomfortable experience,” Slaughter said. “Dating can also be a challenge, especially for guys, because some girls won’t date anyone but returned missionaries. And then some cultures just don’t date so this culture is just not something they are used to.”

To help non-LDS students adapt to the culture, Slaughter said he encourages students to become involved as much as they can in the student body.  In recent years, non-LDS students have created a Cross Seekers club for non-denominational/ Protestant students, a Newman Society for Catholic students and a Muslim Student Association.

Hani Al-Madhoun is one of those who became heavily involved in the student body leadership. From the Gaza Strip, he came to BYU after receiving a scholarship linked to the BYU Jerusalem Center and while here he became the president of the Arabic Club in 2002, and helped found the stand-up comedy club Humor U a few years later.

Al-Madhoun said he had a hard time with a few things, but ultimately enjoyed the BYU atmosphere.

“Struggles were cultural mostly, I had to adjust,” Al-Madhoun said. “[However], even after graduation from college, most of my friends out here in [Washington] D.C. are members of the Church. We have a lot in common as more brings us together and less drive us apart. I would recommend BYU for my relatives and friends.”

Mallipudi agreed while there are some things he would like to change about the BYU culture, in the end his experience has been positive.

“Overall it is a positive thing,” Mallipudi said. “The deeper you go sometimes you see things you really like, at the same time you’ll see things you think that are really strange. They keep balancing out and I never get a skewed view one way or another. Overall I think I will have a better appreciation for LDS people and the faith.”

Slaughter said non-LDS students aren’t the only ones who can learn more about another faith. He said LDS students should use the presence of non-LDS students on campus to enhance the BYU experience.

“Just get to know people for who they are, don’t be quick to judge,” Slaughter said. “You get a great chance to learn things from people when you see things from a different perspective.”