Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That's fine. But 'Bambi's' cliché "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" still rings in the back of my head when my opinion crosses that line. I recently read this article which was definitely opinionated but Carrie Sheffield obviously needed to watch that Disney Classic before thinking to publish. It hurt me to think that she thought I was a member of a woman-suppressing cult comprised of bigots. Not exactly a good way to ease into giving someone advice to improve if you ask me. What ever happened to the affirmation sandwich?
The first thing that really surprised me about her article was she said we weren't welcoming to outsiders. The leaders of this church speak with high regard concerning other religions. I am so grateful to my many friends who are strong in other religions. Their examples help me become a better person. My question to her would be why do we have more than 52,000 full-time missionaries, helping hundreds of thousands of people around the world? Do we not have a relief fund for humanitarian aid? Are we not one of the first organizations to respond in time of a disaster, regardless if someone is of our faith? While yes, Utah has elected mostly Mormon governors; wouldn't you be more likely to trust someone with high standards and a consciousness of the family? It’s like clicking with someone you've just met when you discover you grew up in the same town. You get where they’re coming from.
She implied that, in the LDS faith, women were deterred from getting an education. I dare you to say I have been kept back from receiving an education. My whole life I have been told to get the best education available to me. I moved from my home, worked for a year and went through 2 long years applying to be accepted into the most competitive and distinguished program offered at my school. I was helped and encouraged by every one of my leaders. There is a fund in the church specific to education for those who are unable to pay for their own, available to men and women alike.
As for feeling suppressed because I'm a woman. I have no idea what she was talking about. I am so respected and appreciated. I can't even number the times a house of guys have served me, taken me out and opened my doors, or have come to MY house and washed MY dishes! While yes, we are encouraged to marry it is because people older and far wiser understand that the family is where your greatest joy in life will come from. Where do people want to spend the holidays? Who do you love most in your life? With whom do you share some of the best memories with? Isn't the answer to all of that family? And I do want to be a stay at home mom with my hard earned education. I want to be the one teaching my kids and raising them. I want them to have the kind of mom I had, and they will never get that from a daycare.
I have many homosexual friends. Yes homosexual and friends beside each other. It's not a lifestyle that I believe in but that doesn't mean I think less of them as a person or shun them. And generally I don’t think of them as my “homosexual” friend. They’re just my friends. That word isn’t a definition of a person. Everyone, including Ms. Carrie Sheffield, needs to be treated with respect and love. With the same love that Christ has for each of us. She accused that we reject those that decide this church isn’t for them. I’m sure that does happen, but it’s not supposed to. I’ve had friends make that decision. It makes me sad because I think they’re missing out on so much, but they’re still a part of my life and I love them.
Next on the list of attack was unquestioning obedience. I've had so many questions. But when it comes down to it I find I am so much happier when I follow the counsel I have been given. Not because I fear being punished or cast out from my peers but because when I am obedient a peace and reassurance, so unknown to the world, permeates my life. Why would I think something, that gives my life the greatest peace I've known, is wrong? I've been told time and again to find out for myself. Not to just trust what someone tells me. We are told to search, ponder and pray. To gain a witness for ourselves. And I can tell you, after I have followed this counsel and asked questions, thought about things logically and then prayed for myself I've come to know that these things are true.
People make mistakes, judge, are unkind, thoughtless, prideful, rude and even ridiculous, but don't judge my religion on a whole by those shortcomings. We don't go to church because we're perfect. We go because we know perfectly well that we are not. What I also know is that I have never been held back from living to my full potential because I'm female, but rather empowered. I have never been taught to despise someone because of their religion or life decisions, but to love them despite our differences. And I have never been told to follow blindly, but to search out the answer for myself. And I encourage anyone else to do the same.
http://mormon.org/me/3NMW/Naomi/
