I've just spent the last little while on the Internet looking for blogs by other LDS authors. While I found some, I also came across a lot of Mormon bashing. It's a free country; everyone is entitled to say what they want. Some have had bad experiences with the Church, which is unfortunate. Many are bashing the church without really knowing much about it at all. They all have the right to their say, and luckily, so do I.
I'm a Mormon. Born and raised, through and through, you bet. And I wasn't conned into it or lured into it or trapped by it or anything like that. As I grew older, the choice was given to me whether or not I wanted to follow the teachings, and I chose yes. In fact, that choice is given to me every single day. I can decide for myself every single day whether I believe it or not. No one is forcing me to be a Mormon. I chose it myself, willingly and wholeheartedly.
And why? Because I believe it to be true. Not because I was brainwashed or beaten into submission or threatened or drugged; because the teachings of the church resonate with truth within me. It speaks to my soul as being the word of God.
I'll tell you another little secret -- I'm not a cowed woman. I'm an author. I own my own bath and beauty business. I have a mind and a voice and I use them both. I leave my house and go out and do things I want to do. My husband does not lord over me with a whip. We act as a partnership, giving and taking equally. He's not my boss, and I'm not his.
It's true that there are those who do feel browbeaten and forced to stay in the church. That's not the real church. Any person who is using force to keep someone else from leaving the church is not practicing the religion properly. The real Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is nothing like that, and I am proud, honored and delighted to announce that I'm a Mormon. Yes, I am!
4 comments:
I am too. good blog
Thanks!
Amen. I recently did some research on the Family Proclamation online for a RS lesson and was amazed at how much of it was negative. I certainly don't have all the answers. Who does? I just know the gospel gives me peace, hope and happiness. It just fits and makes sense. Thanks for your post.
You're welcome, and thanks for your comments.
One night I happened upon a site where Christians were being educated on how to talk to Mormons and how to convince us that we're wrong. It saddened me. There didn't seem to be any focus on friendships or getting along with each other; it was very argumentative and contentious. I would love it if people from different religions could find more ways to communicate with each other and leave the fighting out of it.
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