In Defense

I interrupt this blog silence with another topic that is delicate and difficult.

Note: I have no interest in sparking a debate.


There have been a lot of people choosing to leave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Some people that I respect, and like a whole lot are among those who have chosen to disassociate themselves with the church. I think no less of them, and in a lot of ways admire them for doing what has to be excruciating in the communities in which some of them live. They know that large parts of their communities are scrutinizing them, but do what they feel is best for them and their families. That is brave. That is admirable. I love them for that part of it.

When it comes to faith, we have to get on our knees, pray the crap out of our questions, and be ready to follow what we feel will be right in the eyes of God. Even if every single person around us things we are totes cray cray (too heavy handed on the abbreviated lingo in order to make this not so hard to talk about?).

These are some of the reasons many people, women in particular, are giving for leaving, and how I feel differently:

Women are undervalued and under utilized in the church, and don't hold the priesthood: 

     I put two together here because they are very intertwined. This issue could also have about a thousand bullet points and subtitles. It bothers a lot of women that in the "line of command" we ultimately answer to men. Bishops, Stake Presidents, Area Leaders, Apostles, and the Prophet are all men. This does not bother me.
     I have always understood that our roles were designed to be different, but not unequal. Men hold and use the power of the Priesthood in our church. I have always believed this to be predesigned and agreed upon. We believe in a preexistence, and doesn't it make sense that we would have discussed what roles and powers would go where, and how we would balance each other (I know this is not taught in church doctrine, but has always just made sense to me.)? Two great powers: priesthood, and the ability to create life. We divided them, and each took and equal load. Because of this perspective, holding the priesthood has never been an issue for me.
     I have always been made to feel important, heard, and even essential to my gospel family. Yes, I have held council with men in most of the capacities I've served, but I have been blessed to work with men who never lorded over me or made me feel as if they were more important or in touch with what God wanted me to do in that capacity. Also, this is part of the load I believe they agreed to take. I could go and write an entire book on how I feel that men were tasked with leading the church in the right direction, and women were tasked with leading families and children in the right direction. I know that could open a can of worms because many, maybe the majority, of women feel that leaves us confined and short-changed. I disagree. what is more important than children and family. Not anything I can thing of currently. I've digressed, but I want anyone looking into this church to know that I have always ALWAYS been taught and made to feel that I was precious to God. Precious and strong and capable.

Women have to go through men to have access to God:

     False (Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica. Keeping it light enough?). I have direct access to my Heavenly Father. I can receive answers and revelation from Him right to my own self. There are doctrinal occasions where men were used as a buffer between God and women. I have always looked at this as Heavenly Father putting women in a place of precious protection. I don't believe he doubts our strength, but wants to let us know He, and his sons, have our back. This answer won't satisfy everyone, but has always felt right to me. I feel that I have a very personal and direct relationship with my Heavenly Father.
   

The church is out of date, and unkind to certain social communities, particularly the LGBT community:

I wish I could display my heart instead of use words to talk about this issue. I love these people, and my heart aches that these answers aren't easy or straightforward. However, I stand with the Prophet in the discussion of gay marriage. This is why if you could just see my heart we may be able to understand each other better and coexist in friendship, understanding, and an ability to agree to disagree. I want everyone to be happy. Everyone deserves to feel loved. Gay people don't make me feel weird or uncomfortable, and yes our kids can play together, and no I don't think you're evil, and I wish there was a way for you to just see my heart already.

.   .   .

I've spent, and will continue to spend a lot of time on my knees. I don't say this to let you know how spiritual I am. I know a whole lot of people who are maneuvering the world of spiritual faith more gracefully than I am. However, I am not blindly following or under-considering (is that a thing?) the issues that so many members of this church are grappling with. I've been grappling, and simply came out on another side.

I believe in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints  with all of my heart and being. I've asked if this is the truth, and I have been given undeniable answers.

Do I have answers to difficult historical and doctrinal questions? No.
I have prayed about them, many times. I believe there are answers, and we either have them, and don't like/understand them, or we will have them in the future. Maybe even soon.

I don't believe in this church because it is convenient or popular. It isn't. It is kind of opposite of popular right now. I believe in this gospel, and follow these leaders because I believe God isn't going to offer multiple truths to suit different life styles and preferences. There is one truth, and I have never found more of it anywhere else. The truth was the truth for Adam and Eve, and it is the truth for me, and for the last person who will be born. I acknowledge there are inconsistencies. They are the errors of people, not of God.

To those who believe differently, I love you all the same. Please love me all the same too.

no secrets here

I haven't posted in four months. I just haven't felt like it.

and that is ooookay.

Today, I feel like posting this excerpt form a recent journal entry:

"I've forced myself not to feel guilty about being on cruise control today. I went to bed late, was at the gym at 6, so I was tired all day. We watched too much tv, and I didn't get down and play cars with M even half of the times he asked (You guys, he asks about 12387235876432 times a day). That is okay. Why do I beat myself up about these days?

I know someday I will miss this. Too soon probably. I will miss being a dinosaur getting hotdogs and ice cream. I will miss holding my baby girl while she clings to my arm with hers. I will miss wiping bums and teaching to to maneuver stairs. Those days truly are precious. Sometimes it is almost impossible to remember that when I feel buried in them.

Soak it in mama. Soak it in."

On Truth

The thoughts flying through my mind tonight wont settle.

They are unpopular.

It seems that everywhere I turn, I see this idea of relative truth. This idea that people can create truth individual to their own taste, or their own life. This ideology is smothering society's consciousness of real Truth.

Folks, Truth is black and white. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. Truth. Is. Truth, and will remain so even if there is no one left believing.

I do not pretend to have a full understanding of what all Truths are, but I know a God who does.

I know a God who has written Eternal Laws. These laws cannot, and will not change.

Part of me wishes that some of them could change. There are people that I love and admire that are gay. My admiration of them is sincere and total. Their sexuality in no way affects how I personally feel about them. I truly want them to find life partners, and be happy.

That being said, I would defend the law of Marriage being between a man and a woman every time because that is the law of God. I can not regard the opinion of anyone, no matter how high they may be in my esteem, more than I regard the word and laws of God.

I do not believe the Lord doesn't want gay people to be happy. I believe that He loves them, and understands them. I don't begin to understand why this particular law is what it is, and why it is such a struggle. But, it is Truth.

This is just one of many Eternal Laws that are being relitivized by today's society. 

I must live the Truth as I feel it in my heart. My Father in Heaven has proved himself to me too many times for me to doubt Him. His hand is simply too obvious in my life.

So, I stand for the Truth I know, and lovingly ask for understanding and acceptance.

I will grant the same to you.

Instead

Instead of staying a baby, P is growing and (gasp) practically CRAWLING. 

Instead of swapping out clothes that are too small, I keep squeezing her healthy self into them. I mean, those leggings. How can I not?

Instead of letting C's work induced absence make me nuts I am concentrating on looking so forward to heading west soon, and spending weeks and weeks with this lady.

Instead of cleaning the kitchen I watched these two play, while thinking about how yummy the bigger one is.

Instead of wearing pants I put on the most comfortable leggings of my life, picked up C from the airport, and went to this neat park for lunch.

Instead of being nervous about outings on my own with the minions, I take a superhero with me.

Instead of getting sad about a terrible haircut, I swept those blunt bangs to the side, and simply embraced the frizz.

February and Beyond

Our house has been looking something like this:

                                        

                                        

                                        

                                        

                                        

*Potty training is happening up in here, and its working out this time. Jelly beans have magical potty powers.

*I have a hard time keeping M out of P's crib. I am normally quite diligent about not allowing him in, but I didn't have the heart to deny him this cuddle time. He wanted it so badly. 

*This girl is a smiling machine

*The library is one of our frequent escapes when the walls start to close in at home. M is probably a little too comfortable there. He always has things to tell Diane, our fabulous librarian, and takes complete reign of the children's section of the building.

*I have always tried to foster M's imagination. I lived in my imagination as a child, and wouldn't want it any other way for my kids. Sometimes I am baffled at what he comes up with. Being surprised at the originality of your children is pretty neat.

*smooches

*Those little carts have been at the top of my enemy list for some time. They whisper to the children pushing them to run willy nilly through the store, and to disregard everything their parents are saying to them. All of a sudden he has been listening really well, and staying right next to me all through the store. He even pushes the heavy stuff.

*I was so happy C snapped this for me. This is what so much of my time is spent doing. This kid is obsessed with books. It makes me feel a little better about the fact that he is also crazy for television. We are SO excited for the warm weather, so we spend time outside instead of in front of a screen.