Mormonism In America

I have this theory that any publicity for the LDS church is good publicity. It draws attention to our beliefs, whether it is accurate or not, and then questions are asked. For any religion/cause/movement it is good to have people who have no knowledge ask questions because they can know true answers. Having said that, there is a footnote to my theory. You need to ask the questions to someone who knows what they're talking about.
This goes for the CBS featurette that aired tonight called "Mormons in America." There were interviews that I liked because they were with actual members of the LDS church. And there were things said by non-LDS members that I was unhappy about, especially that Abby Huntsman chica. You don't ask ex-wives about their views of their former husbands, so why ask ex-Mormons about their views on the Church? If you want the truth, don't ask the people who don't believe in it. But, once again, we as honest viewers have been subjected to uncomfortable untruths promoted by prominent figures in society to further selfish causes.
Also, you missed some things about Mormons in America (recent--and positive--things, I might add):
1. Missionary work. We are not a "mystery" church. We have thousands of members going out to spread the word, so to speak. It doesn't have to be a mystery to people outside of the church. Just ask us and we're happy to answer! We can even send real missionaries right to your door who love to talk about the Church.
2. Humanitarian work. We are one of the leaders in humanitarian work for America and the world. We don't just help our members, like the show said. For example, we were the first on the scene of Katrina and Haiti.
3. We are not secretive; we are sacred. Referring to the part about walking across the street to St. Patrick's and just being able to walk in, but we are old fashioned and don't let anyone into our temples: First of all, anyone can enter our meeting houses, which are essentially what cathedrals are. Secondly, my mom had a good point about just walking into cathedrals. When we were visiting Sacre Coeur in Paris--a well-known public church--there were tons of people walking into this supposedly important religious space. People knew that it was holy to some, and we saw people praying in the pews and paying homage to the saints. Even so, people we disrespectfully loud and obnoxious. We couldn't figure out how these worshippers were able to feel spiritual or have a peaceful time to pray because people were so noisy! THAT is why we don't let just anyone walk into our temples; they are sacred to us and we like to be able to feel spiritual in peace and serenity. And you need to prove that you are willing to fully participate and take it seriously. Sacred isn't a word you don't hear too often, anymore, but we take it seriously.

Some things that bugged me:
1. "The Book of Mormon" musical. Why even mention it?!?! Again, written by ex-Mormons who consciously left for their own reasons. Not written by us. Has no affiliation with us.
2. Blacks. We love everyone and try to be as Christ-like as we can. You interviewed a man who, even though he said he didn't feel persecuted as the only black man in his congregation, lives in Utah. There are not many blacks in Utah to begin with. But I went to an LDS ward in London and that ward was mostly Nigerian immigrants. The two white girls from my program and I were probably 3 of 12 or so white people in the congregation. I wanted to tell the interviewer this and remind him that this is a global church and we accept all types of people.

I think it's awesome how Mitt Romney has stepped into the public eye as a solid, practicing Mormon because his example has got people talking. We are so ready to talk, but you need to ask us and give less face time to Abby Huntsman and the creators of South Park.

Feminism: The Power of Choice

I want to talk about the power of choice.
I'm a feminist in the way that I am in support of giving women the right to choose.
I am currently taking a women's culture and folklore class and it has helped me to form the words I need to say about how I feel about women. Here is what I feel.
You can't be judgmental of people for their choices. It's hard enough for people to make choices without your judgments to go with it.
You can't pigeonhole people. There are so many cultural and circumstantial and personal factors that play into women's lives. It's simply not fair to assume things about people. Someone in class today said that there isn't feminism, but there are feminisms.  This means that you can be a feminist in your own way, which means there are several ways.  So don't automatically categorize people.
This is why I think I have had a hard time finding love here in Provo: I have been pigeonholed. Boys who don't know me take me on a first date and we discuss post-graduation plans, naturally. I say that I want to go to grad school and maybe even get a doctorate degree. I'm not sure, but I think this is why I don't get second dates. I've been in conflict with myself over this because I wonder if I should say that I want to have a family during this process of schooling, too. Because it's true. Having a family is the most important thing for me.   But I feel like its weird to be talking about marriage with a guy I barely know on the first date. I consider future schooling a safer topic of choice with a boy I barely know over a discussion of something that is very personal to me: that is, motherhood. I'm so excited to be a mother. I have had baby dolls since I can remember and have had names picked out since forever. And I don't want to tell boys this until it gets serious between us. Unfortunately, I have been pigeonholed as a girl who wants to put off marriage and pursue a career. This is a turn-off for many a man here in this dating pool. If I have to be pigeonholed, make me an LDS, education-minded woman who wants to get the best education not only for herself, but for the well-being of her future family.
There are women who want to focus on their careers and put-off having a family.  There are women who want to graduate high school and jump right into husband hunting.  There are women who are married and don't have children, yet.  I think these different situations are what allow us to be women.  I think that is the beauty of being a woman; we have so much potential to be anything.  And women's opportunities are only increasing, especially in America.
I'm not about to burn my bra, but I do want to help women, someday.  I want women to realize how beautiful the woman is sitting next to them.  I want stigmas and judgments to have a second chance at explaining themselves in women's culture.  Once we start appreciating each other, I think we can start loving ourselves a bit more.
And now a list of things I love about being a woman during 2012 in the US:
1. I recently learned that women had a burst of courage after the first World War and applied for colleges.  Before this time, women just didn't go to college.  I love the part in The Help when Skeeter goes to play cards for the first time with the girls since she graduated from Mississippi State and the others were going on about how long she was at school for.  Skeeter gives them a look and says, "College is for four years, you know."  So even during the 60s, women went to school just to find husbands.  So I love how today, it isn't weird to go to college if you are a woman.  In fact, a USA Today article states that in 2005, 57% of college grads were women.

c. 1890: 2nd row from top, 4th woman from right: first Native American Woman to graduate from medical school

2012: I am able to graduate from college, no questions asked!

2. A Forbes article states that nearly 10.4 million firms are owned by women.  In other words, we are increasing our numbers in the workforce immensely after getting kicked out of our jobs post-WWII.

Irene Rosenfield, chairperson and CEO of Kraft, Inc.

3. We don't have to worry about dying during childbirth as much as we used to.  I don't have to post statistics for you to believe me.
4. Media is available for us to say what we want to say and to connect with one another.

As the Spice Girls would say (in a British accent, obviously):

"GIRL POWERRR!"

my thoughts on LBGT

I have been thinking about this for awhile and have been delaying blogging about it imply because it's such a heavy subject and I did not know enough.  I still don't know everything, but after tonight I have a pretty solid opinion and insight to the LGBT community and gay Mormons specifically.  Tonight, BYU had a gay BYU student panel where the sociology department had four people who were openly gay and attending BYU answer questions and talk a little bit.  They had a HUGE turnout and I was sitting on the floor.  It was very very interesting.
First of all, I want to give some background information on the LDS Church's and BYU's standing on gays in the Church and in general.
This is what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints says officially: look at lds.org and here and here.
This is what the honor code at BYU-Provo says:
"Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or attraction and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards. Members of the university community can remain in good Honor Code standing if they conduct their lives in a manner consistent with gospel principles and the Honor Code.

One's stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue. However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings."

Basically and overall, homosexuality and bisexuality is still a controversial subject that everyone, no matter who they are, are having to learn about for themselves.  We have standards in the Church that go for everyone.  Being sexually chaste is very important to us and so that is what we support.  PROP 8 and other political and religious movements that the Church supports is in support of chastity and the family unit.

Even though I have had lots of interaction with gays, I have not sat down with someone of gay sexual orientation and asked them questions, so tonight was a great opportunity for me.  They had an openly gay man who is married to a woman and has a daughter, a lesbian, a single gay man, and a bisexual man.  All are LDS and active in the Church.  They started out with telling their stories about when they knew for sure, what they did after they found out, and how they came out.  Then they answered questions from the students who were in attendance.  They wanted us to not be afraid about asking questions not just at the panel, but with their LGBT friends and family.  They truly believed that they were born this way and it wasn't just a "choice."  

The thing that stuck out to me the most about Mormons having to deal with being faithful members of the Church while struggling with their sexual orientation is that they all thought that they had failed the Lord as a person.  But they all emphasized that they all were at peace with their lives when they realized that their Heavenly Father loves them no matter what.  They all said that they grew closer to God and Christ while searching for answers.  I whole-heartedly agree with this because I have been there.  I haven't had questions about my sexuality, but I have definitely had to deal with other things in my life that not a lot of people understand.  But throughout the whole thing, I have never doubted my Heavenly Father's love for me. 

I think that homophobia is something that comes from ignorance and fear.  Homosexuality is a fairly new thing for a lot of people to deal with, since it has been taboo for so long.  I think that there is also issues with retaliation on both sides.  There are people who have been categorized as "Christian until homosexuality," where they are Christ-like people until they have to talk about homosexuality.  But there are people from the LGBT community who say that people are stupid for not fully supporting who they are.  Either way, it is just because not everyone knows everything about everyone else, just like every other controversial issue in this world.  My advice would be to talk to people who are homo- or bisexual and ask them questions.  Form your own opinion and stick to it.  Then love everyone and be Christ-like no matter what.