tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32786826487015755562024-03-13T10:16:01.031-06:00Normal MormonsIt's true. We're out there.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-34427137415320580272010-10-15T00:51:00.001-06:002010-10-15T00:51:06.145-06:00Test postblahAprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-14233893885096945842009-06-09T09:17:00.001-06:002009-06-09T09:18:20.380-06:00Please Excuse...A NEW Normal Mormons will be back in a jiff! Til then, take a look at the archive! Lots of great reads!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-27540597374846912202009-03-10T09:06:00.004-06:002009-03-10T09:22:13.631-06:00"Big Love" to Air Sacred Temple CeremoniesIf you haven't yet heard, HBO is planning to air parts of our sacred temple ceremonies. As you may have guessed, I am extraordinarily angry. Like - really, really angry. It's not so much about the sacred temple ceremony being publicized, it's more about the fact that they are purposefully trying to disrespect us. They hired an ex-Mormon to tell them all the details of what goes on in the temple. Usually producers and directors attempt (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">albeit</span> the feeblest attempt) to respect most major <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">religions</span> without "crossing that line." Well - they just crossed a huge one. BUT - after reading this article I feel a little better.<br /><br />From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Website:<br /><br />Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sometimes finds itself on the receiving end of attention from Hollywood or Broadway, television series or books, and the news media. Sometimes depictions of the Church and its people are quite accurate. Sometimes the images are false or play to stereotypes. Occasionally, they are in appallingly bad taste.<br /><br />As Catholics, Jews and Muslims have known for centuries, such attention is inevitable once an institution or faith group reaches a size or prominence sufficient to attract notice. Yet Latter-day Saints – sometimes known as Mormons - still wonder whether and how they should respond when news or entertainment media insensitively trivialize or misrepresent sacred beliefs or practices.<br /><br />Church members are about to face that question again. Before the first season of the HBO series Big Love aired more than two years ago, the show’s creators and HBO executives assured the Church that the series <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">wouldn</span>’t be about Mormons. However, Internet references to Big Love indicate that more and more Mormon themes are now being woven into the show and that the characters are often unsympathetic figures who come across as narrow and self-righteous. And according to TV Guide, it now seems the show’s writers are to depict what they understand to be sacred temple ceremonies.<br /><br />Certainly Church members are offended when their most sacred practices are misrepresented or presented without context or understanding. Last week some Church members began e-mail chains calling for cancellations of subscriptions to AOL, which, like HBO, is owned by Time Warner. Certainly such a boycott by hundreds of thousands of computer-savvy Latter-day Saints could have an economic impact on the company. Individual Latter-day Saints have the right to take such actions if they choose.<br /><br />The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series. As Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Robert D. Hales of the Council of the Twelve Apostles have both said recently, when expressing themselves in the public arena, Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness.<br /><br />Not only is this the model that Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated in his own life, but it also reflects the reality of the strength and maturity of Church members today. As someone recently said, “This <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">isn</span>’t 1830, and there <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">aren</span>’t just six of us anymore.” In other words, with a global membership of thirteen and a half million there is no need to feel defensive when the Church is moving forward so rapidly. The Church’s strength is in its faithful members in 170-plus countries, and there is no evidence that extreme misrepresentations in the media that appeal only to a narrow audience have any long-term negative effect on the Church.<br /><br />Examples:<br /><br />During the Mitt Romney election campaign for the presidency of the United States, commentator Lawrence O’Donnell hurled abuse at the Church in a television moment that became known among many Church members as “the O’Donnell rant.” Today, his statements are remembered only as a testament to intolerance and ignorance. They had no effect on the Church that can be measured.<br /><br />When the comedy writers for South Park produced a gross portrayal of Church history, individual Church members no doubt felt uncomfortable. But once again it inflicted no perceptible or lasting damage to a church that is growing by at least a quarter of a million new members every year.<br /><br />When an independent film company produced a grossly distorted version of the<br />Mountain Meadows Massacre two years ago, the Church ignored it. Perhaps partly as a result of that refusal to engender the controversy that the producers hoped for, the movie flopped at the box office and lost millions.<br /><br />In recent months, some gay activists have barraged the media with accusations about “hateful” attitudes of Latter-day Saints in supporting Proposition 8 in California, which maintained the traditional definition of marriage. They even organized a protest march around the Salt Lake Temple. Again, the Church has refused to be goaded into a Mormons versus gays battle and has simply stated its position in tones that are reasonable and respectful. Meanwhile, missionary work and Church members in California remain as robust and vibrant as ever, and support for the Church has come from many unexpected quarters — including some former critics and other churches.<br /><br />Now comes another series of Big Love, and despite earlier assurances from HBO it once again blurs the distinctions between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the show’s fictional non-Mormon characters and their practices. Such things say much more about the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">insensitivities</span> of writers, producers and TV executives than they say about Latter-day Saints.<br /><br />If the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years. Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-53580158804535193062009-02-18T13:59:00.000-07:002009-02-18T13:59:42.256-07:00The Beauty of Being Involvedby April<br /><br />So, contrary to what many have discussed thus far on Normal Mormons, I actually really like my ward. I didn't even have to ward shop! We've lived in the same place for a year, and it hasn't been just until recently that I've had the time and will to actually participate and go every Sunday. But as a new year's resolution, I promised that I would go to everything I possibly could, do my visiting teaching, fulfill my calling as a Mia Maids advisor, and attend enrichment meetings etc... So far, I am doing pretty awesome. <br /><br />Not gonna lie though, I used to dread going to church and activities. I was always the "new" girl - and no one really knew me very well. Plus, church is boring. I'm sorry - but unless there's an extraordinarily charismatic speaker, I can't pay attention for the life of me. Even in Sunday School. Especially in Sunday School, ugh. But lately, I've found that the friendships I've made with both the youth, the leaders, and many of the women in RS that I actually look forward to showing up. <br /><br />Sure, perhaps it's bad that I look forward to going to church because of friends or social activities, but honestly how many people do that? Countless. Even the older folks who are supposed to be "attentive" and all "filled with the spirit" doze off, read a book, etc... (even the Bishop!) which honestly - isn't right. At least I look like I'm paying attention instead of blatantly ignoring the speaker like most do.<br /><br />My husband's view on church callings is quite different - I think I'll have him do a guest post!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-55684215828587843422009-01-05T10:41:00.005-07:002009-01-05T11:05:38.052-07:00What the Heck is Kolob???<p align="left">Somehow, while working very hard, I was Googling stuff and came upon this image. </p><p align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RdJuFYi99z4/SWJLnOeemJI/AAAAAAAABg8/WbplAjvK3co/s1600-h/mormonbarbie.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287872049759295634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RdJuFYi99z4/SWJLnOeemJI/AAAAAAAABg8/WbplAjvK3co/s400/mormonbarbie.jpg" /></a></p>I was like, "Hey, that's kinda funny/mean/sad." I had to do a bad photoshop edit on it because there was top secret temple stuff included. (Rude!) But what the Hell is Kolob? If you notice in the background there are letters on the building. So I Googled that. And went to Wikipedia. And found this.<br /><br /><br /><p align="left">In the <a title="Latter Day Saint movement" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint_movement">Latter Day Saint movement</a>, Kolob is a <a title="Star" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star">star</a> or <a title="Planet" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet">planet</a> mentioned in the <a title="Book of Abraham" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Abraham">Book of Abraham</a> as being nearest to the <a title="Throne" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throne">throne</a> or residence of <a title="God" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God">God</a>. The literal existence and the exact nature of Kolob is a controversial topic in Latter Day Saint movement theology, as is the Book of Abraham, which has not been canonized by the <a title="Community of Christ" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_of_Christ">Community of Christ</a> and <a title="List of sects in the Latter Day Saint movement" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sects_in_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement">several other denominations</a>. However, the idea of Kolob has had an influence in the theology and culture of <a title="The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a> (LDS Church).</p>So since I am sort of a "newerish" member, maybe someone could explain this to me? I mean, I read the Wiki definition, but what do you guys think? I had no idea.<br /><br /><br /><p align="left">Now we sound more like Scientology and their weird planet "Xenu." What gives?</p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-88881618257439529842008-12-31T10:56:00.005-07:002008-12-31T11:12:25.507-07:00Prayer?Last night I got down on the side of the bed and started praying as usual. Normally, I thank Him for the things he's given me, and humbly ask Him for the things I need or want. I always include a line about "keeping family and friends safe" and try to thank Him as much as possible for the individual ways in which I've been blessed lately, hoping that my "requests" and "thank you's" will balance out by the prayers end. <br /><br />Lat night I was sort of at a stand still. I prayed SO hard for my husband and I to get the Lap-Band these past few months that we ended up actually getting it on Dec. 8th together. That was probably the best thing that has ever happened to us both! But now, my husband is having horrendous foot pain. He had gout before, (which is one of the most painful things a man can go through...comparable to child birth they say) and now it's just so much worse. They think it might even be Rheumatiod Arthritis which BOTH of our mother's have, so we know it really, really sucks. He has to use a crutch and even cries because it hurts so bad. And hubby ain't no pansy either. He's gigantic and muscley and just...not a "crier." So I know it's bad. <br /><br />He said..."What if asking God for something is a lot like making a wish? You know, like when you wish for a million dollars and your dad ends up dying so you can get his life insurance or something... and THAT'S how you get the million dollars? What if God is like that and he gave us the Lap-Band, but then gives me Rheumatiod Arthritis?"<br /><br />I didn't really know what to say, because maybe he had a point. Thoughts?Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-5418467242427391522008-11-25T09:00:00.002-07:002009-01-12T11:46:00.321-07:00This Is Why Mormons Have 400 Kids EachI don’t want to beat a dead horse here, but there are a few things mentioned in my ward this week that really bugged me. We haven’t been to church in a few weeks, so while sitting in sacrament meeting I was really feeling the spirit. Sunday school was a bore as usual, but my husband kept me busy as he impatiently misbehaved the entire time. Then, in Young Women’s (I am an advisor) the topic was on how our views differ from the views of the world. Things like alcohol, drugs, etc… Then came the part about having children in which one of the girls quoted a prophet/leader, “It’s incredibly selfish to not have children when you are able to do so.” or something to that effect. Then she went on to quote more leaders, “People often ask how many children we should have, and to that I say ‘Have as many as you can handle.’” Then she began to get emotional, saying she can’t imagine not using the gift God gave us.<br /><br />The reason these statements bugged me is because not everyone is the same. I know LDS people that have no desire whatsoever to have children. (Albeit there are very few of them…) but it’s not because they want to “make money” or “travel” – it’s not for worldly things. It’s simply because they aren’t the nurturing type and they don’t particularly enjoy children. I find absolutely nothing wrong with this, and having church leaders say otherwise really makes me angry. Personally, as you may know, I want to have children! But I am not like everyone else. And we all shouldn’t be the same. Sometimes I think Church leaders, but ESPECIALLY certain members tear down people when they are different. They don’t realize that it’s okay to be different and have different feelings towards something like bearing children.<br /><br />Then the statement, “Have as many as you can handle” just threw me over the edge. I am assuming he meant have as many as you can handle mentally, physically, and financially. Which is a good idea in theory, but all in all really dumb. Again, everyone is different. If I have the mental capacity, the physical ability, and the financial freedom to have “just one more” after say, my 9th child it doesn’t mean I should just keep having kids. Of course, there are people who want more than that, so I say “Go ahead!” But just because you CAN have another child, doesn’t mean you SHOULD, or HAVE to.<br /><br />I think the church needs to reiterate that having children is good, but only when we can afford to do so. So many times it feels like the church is egging us on to “raise seed unto the gospel” no matter what the cost, or how much government assistance people are getting. Granted, the majority of the LDS people in my area are filthy rich doctors, but we all know the starving BYU students who decide it would be a good idea to have a kid, then get on government aid, and eat ramen just so they can “fit in” with the church mindset of having kids as often and as soon as possible.<br /><br />Break the mold a little people!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-10078438739894737062008-11-16T20:08:00.004-07:002008-11-16T20:15:01.238-07:00Oh My Heck, We Are FamousI got an e-mail letting me know that Normal Mormons was in an article! Here it is, from BeliefNet.com.<br /><br /><em>(UNDATED) Stories about love, lust and the undead may not seem like the best vehicle for teaching teens about faith and morality. But for Stephenie Meyer, who has been called "the Mormon Anne Rice," her best-selling "Twilight" books and upcoming movie contain plenty of teachable moments.Meyer, a wife and mother of three from Phoenix, who is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and graduate of Brigham Young University, says she has become accustomed to people asking her, "What's a nice Mormon girl like you doing writing about vampires?"But as she told one Mormon-themed Web site, "Unconsciously, I put a lot of my basic beliefs into the story.""Twilight," published in 2005, was the debut vampire novel in the series of books that has now sold nearly 10 million copies, generating the kind of frenzy among tweens and teens that rivals Harry Potter.The film version opens in theaters nationwide on Nov. 21.On the surface, "Twilight" is little more than the latest incarnation of vampire legends that have circulated in many cultures for centuries, and which have been popularized in novels like Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (1897) and Anne Rice's "Vampire Chronicles'' series (1976-2003).Yet Meyer's religious and moral values clearly shine through, even though Mormonism is never mentioned.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Heroine Bella Swan has the same insecurities and anxieties as any 17-year-old girl. But when she falls for Edward Cullen, a handsome fellow student who happens to be a vampire, she confronts the kinds of existential questions that religion addresses."The most obvious Mormon influences can be seen in the ways that Meyer has her teenage heroine stand up for marriage and, ultimately, motherhood," says Jana Riess, author of "What Would Buffy Do: The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide" and co-author of "Mormonism for Dummies.""But anyone who is familiar with the Book of Mormon can also discern deeper theological themes, from the Mormon reinterpretation of the Fall of humankind -- which inspired the apple on the `Twilight' book cover -- to the theme of overcoming the natural man, which we can see when Bella wrestles with her desires and decides whether or not to become a vampire.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>"The concept for the "Twilight Saga'' series of books came in a vision, says Meyer, who is 34 and had never published a word before pitching her idea to an agent who got her a $750,000, three-book deal.</em><br /><em><br />She doesn't read vampire books or watch R-rated movies like "Interview with the Vampire."And the sexual tension that pervades the stories is a natural byproduct of Meyer's strict Mormon upbringing. Growing up as a good Mormon girl among other good Mormon girls and boys, she met her future husband as a child but the two did not associate outside of church activities until they began dating when she was 20. They married nine months later.Unlike many other young adult novels, there's no sex in "Twilight,"even though Meyer's editor suggested otherwise. None of the characters drink alcohol or indulge in profanity, but there is plenty of heavy breathing and sexual tension.</em><br /><em></em><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Meyer's treatment of sexuality is a hot topic on Mormon-themed Web sites like normalmormons.com and motleyvision.org that make up the online "bloggernacle."A writer on motleyvision.org, which explores Mormon art and culture, says Meyer's books show "how abstinence leads to a heavily charged play of small gestures among Mormon teenagers and young adults."</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>And in a post on normalmormons.com ("It's true. We're out there."), a relative of Meyer's writes:"Edward and Bella could barely touch or kiss for fear that Edward might get carried away and suck her blood in a fit of passion. Very similar to that of two young BYU/high school students who aren't yet married and can't touch each other for fear it will lead to sex. I'm sure it was easy for Stephenie to describe with firsthand experiences."</strong></span><br /><em></em><br /><em>By STEVE RABEY c. 2008 Religion News ServiceCopyright 2008 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.</em><br /><em></em><br />Pretty Sweet Huh? <a href="http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2008/11/mormon-mom-and-twilight-author.php">Here's the link.</a>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-63038332857027995452008-11-04T15:12:00.003-07:002008-11-04T15:26:46.024-07:00Why I Voted For ObamaI've mentioned before that my ideals are not liberal or republican. In fact, I am not sure what it's called - I just know what I believe in. This has been the most difficult decision I've had to make in a long time. I've flip-flopped between candidates for awhile, and I finally sat down and tried to write down (in excel spreadsheet form of course) each candidates policies and what they believe in. I researched, and researched everything from their past to their family life and exactly what they would do for the country. I watched all the debates and even watched biased media (although I shouldn't have.) Then, all slander and unconfirmed facts aside, I still didn't have a clue as to who I would vote for.<br /><br />Last night I even got down on my knees and prayed that Heavenly Father would guide me in the right direction. But I still didn't have an answer right away.<br /><br />Even as I walked into the little elementary school gym, I wasn't sure who it would be. I cast my vote for all the other candidates for congress and district courts etc... Then it came to the large box to the left with the nominees for president. <br /><br />It was at that moment it sort of just...came to me. I want to vote for the person who is best for this country, not who is best for just me. So to make a very, very, very long drawn out and detailed story short - that's why I chose Obama.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-89727427381296971552008-10-19T22:13:00.002-06:002008-10-19T22:29:09.074-06:00Are YOU Normal?For the first time ever, Normal Mormons is openly recruiting writers! Here's what we're looking for!<br /><br />1. 2 male writers<br /><br />2. 2 female writers<br /><br />3. You'll need to be able to post twice per month.<br /><br />4. Your writing has to be witty, unique, and something we wouldn't find on every other Mormon blog. You don' have to be funny because, let's face it, we wouldn't be writers here if that was the criteria. <br /><br />5. Submit a paragraph either via e-mail or in the comments section stating why you want to be a writer.<br /><br />Things to consider:<br /><br />-This blog is politically neutral. We welcome democrats, republicans, independents, etc... Your views can be expressed, but probably won't be entirely agreed with.<br /><br />-This blog is about Mormons and being Mormon. Therefore, you must be a Mormon. Convert, inactive, whatever. As long as you consider yourself a Mo, you're good.<br /><br />-This blog firmly enforces freedom of speech. You are basically allowed to say whatever you want, assuming you don't use swear words. Think "newspaper" guidelines.<br /><br />-That in mind, you'll want to make us look good. So don't do anything stupid.<br /><br />Hope to hear from you soon!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-53697533696103497222008-10-18T15:17:00.002-06:002008-10-18T15:24:29.932-06:00Mormons and the MediaThis is a post I wrote on Modern Molly Mormon, another blog I write for. After it's post, an overwhelming amount of comments and e-mails were made, mostly not in my favor. As a result of my little "non-conformist" view, the poor mediator of that blog had to enforce some new rules about not posting things that aren't congruent with the churches official stance on certain topics. Afterwards I posted an apology, but received e-mails and comments that were all of a sudden more supportive. So without further ado... <br /><br /><em>I feel it’s only appropriate to post on something I have experience in. For those of you who haven’t gone over to my profile, I am an account executive for an NBC affiliate. As you might imagine, the media has been a ginormous part of my life. Movies, music, Internet, billboards, television, newspaper…I’ve spent my college career studying these things in depth. So what have I learned? All media isn’t evil (as it turns out.)<br /></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RdJuFYi99z4/SPfZ5PbTOlI/AAAAAAAAAh8/wJFXV2tJHTU/s1600-h/law+and+order.jpg" linkindex="19"></a><em>Many of us easily shy away from certain types of media fearing it will "taint" us or our families. We need to understand that humans have a natural curiosity towards the unknown. Violence, sex, drugs, rape….all the “bad” stuff. This is why the particularly violent or sex themed shows are among the highest rated. Same with movies and music. Sometimes the media can help our children and ourselves understand the world around us. It doesn’t mean that we all want to be a part of this or take action and mimic these atrocities. By being exposed to different forms of media, we are able to develop a distinct line between good and evil, between right and wrong. We are able to understand our curiosities without acting on them. We are able to see what happens in the world in a fictional setting, versus a much more dangerous and real setting. This is also where good parenting comes in. Naturally our children might mimic what they see on TV or sing a dirty lyric they heard on the radio, which is really what we are afraid of if we allow our children to be exposed to such material. It’s our job to help them draw that mental line between “good” and</em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RdJuFYi99z4/SPfZt_mQJfI/AAAAAAAAAh0/cTAueJko5xg/s1600-h/pussycatdolls.jpg" linkindex="20"></a><em> “bad.” By completely shutting out certain types of media from our lives we only limit our knowledge of the real world. Not to mention the fact that the things we see on the news can be just as bad or worse than anything fictional. Now, I am not saying that watching a rated “R” movie with graphic violence and language in it is the best way to educate your family. But it IS a way. And it’s much easier to talk about it as a family than have curiosity take a turn for the worst. It’s also an excellent way to visually stimulate the minds of children about historic actual events. (Who wants to read about the Titanic when they can SEE the movie?)</em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RdJuFYi99z4/SPfaboEWt1I/AAAAAAAAAiE/2HvDTFpRyXI/s1600-h/katy-perry.jpg" linkindex="21"></a><em>So when your six year old girl comes into the room and starts singing, “I kissed a girl and I liked it!!!” you can actually talk about it with her and explain what it means and why it's bad. Or when your son brings out his toy gun and starts shooting people, you can illustrate that he should be shooting the rapists and not the policemen. (Joke.) Since we are all “Modern” Mollies blogging on the Internet I don’t suspect any of you are completely stuck in the stone age.<br />I will say that we are part of a special group of people that take morality seriously. We are mothers, wives, and daughters who have standards. But we should also have open minds.<br />I personally am biased because I LOVE the media! I have learned more through media than at school! I admittedly watch rated R movies and listen to the Top 40 songs (which are often less than moral), but I am not a heathen. We are all different and have different takes on things that are appropriate. The important thing is to always keep an open mind, and experiment with new movies and media to keep a broad knowledge of what is out there. This way your children aren't blindsided when they are out in the real world and exposed to certain media for the first time.</em>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-76382729880080116042008-10-07T20:27:00.003-06:002008-10-07T20:29:13.992-06:00Normal Mormon MakeoverHey everyone! Please excuse the mess while I update the page, change the layout, and make Normal Mormons friggin' awesome. In the mean time, check out some of the posts labeled "controversy." Those tend to be pretty fun.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-44932166922224763052008-09-29T10:53:00.002-06:002008-09-29T11:29:45.420-06:00The Love GuruThe Love Guru was dumb. As are most movies that Mike Meyers has anything to do with. But of course I watched it and actually laughed. <br /><br />It's a story of an Indian guy (Meyers) who wants to become the best guru/motivational speaker out there, a title which is currently held by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Deepak</span> Chopra. Upon watching the movie, my husband and I assumed this Chopra guy was some made up character, when in reality he's a real guru. (Shows you how out of touch we are.) Out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">curiosty</span> we You <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Tube'd</span> him and found that his motivational speaking is some of the most soothing, interesting, and peaceful stuff out there. Now, the only motivational speaker we really payed any attention to was Matt Foley, the guy who lives in the van down by the river. So we didn't have much to compare him to. After a few videos my husband says:<br /><br />"That's it, I am changing religions. What's better than a religion where you don't have to do anything?" <br /><br />In one video Chopra stresses the idea of meditation, and enforces you to do nothing. To just sit there and breathe. Don't think. Just do nothing. Which sounds pretty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">freekin</span>' awesome to me. His entire "thing" is based on well being, mind/body/soul oneness and all that sort of guru-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ish</span> sounding stuff. <br /><br />Thankfully, we don't have to switch religions or anything to become completely "one" with our bodies and take some advice from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Deepak</span>. I find that high stress levels are often a common factor in church and in our Mormon social groups. Dr. Chopra and his center for well-being takes a completely non-judgemental view on life, God, and our bodies. Therefore any religions really can benefit from his ideas.<br /><br />The Chopra Center is a place in Carlsbad, CA that has among other things, yoga, motivational speaking, and other sorts of liberal-vegetarian personality type stuff. However, I am becoming more and more entranced with all these cool ideas. As a younger adult, I find it's important to start investigating who I really am, and how being Mormon is a huge part of my personality. Some of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Deepak's</span> ideas really fall in line with Christianity and Mormonism, giving into the idea that our spirits are here way before and after we had physical bodies. While I don't think he has a religion officially, he has investigated Hinduism, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Buddhism</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Christianity</span> and more I assume. <br /><br />While we can't all fly to Carlsbad, I suggest you check out Dr. Chopra on You Tube. I can't cross my legs like he can, but I am always down for doing a little bit of nothing and meditating!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chopra.com/aboutdeepak">http://www.chopra.com/aboutdeepak</a>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-86571819210238634812008-09-26T08:40:00.004-06:002008-09-26T08:50:31.873-06:00A New BlogHey everyone.<br /><br />Blogging is a lot like credit cards - you want them, and they are great to have for a while, but after you collect six or seven it's time to just stop.<br /><br />Thankfully, I am just in the beginning phases of this horrendous cycle, and therefore have created a new blog. It has come to my attention that my young inexperienced girlishness has rubbed off obviously on this blog. I personally suspect it's due to my lack of expression regarding my over-girliness. I will admit, my favorite color is pink. But that's beside the point.<br /><br />Ideally, Normal Mormons is a very uni-sex place for men and women to talk about being a Mormon. I don't want my posts to start (or continue in some cases) sounding and catering to the female psyche. So I've created a new blog that will allow me to vent and talk about literlly - whatever the heck I want, which will hopefully divert this blog's theme into a man and woman friendly place to be Normal.<br /><br />It's just www.aprildurham.blogspot.com and it's called "April Showers." I'm pretty flighty, so this might change if I think of something better. Ideas would be sweet. But then again, if it was a good idea you would probably use it yourself.<br /><br />I have also recently acquired the Adobe Creative Suite, which I have no clue how to use (aside from PhotoShop) so forgive me if the theme and structure of my pages starts to morph. <br /><br />In the mean time, take a look at my new blog, make some comments so I look cool, and let's start swapping blog buttons.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-80521596853823850942008-09-22T13:51:00.003-06:002008-09-22T13:58:46.540-06:00Anti-Mormon Comment (Woo hoo!)Dontcha just LOVE this?
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<br />Anonymous- in italics.
<br />Me - in bold.
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<br /><em>Read your church history-- and maybe be brave enough to venture outside of the pale, whitewashed "approved" version in your sunday school handbook.</em>
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<br /><strong>I do. That’s the point of this blog. </strong>
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<br /><em>The LDS church's history is ripe with sexism and racism.</em>
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<br /><strong>Um, so is the United States of America’s history. Not just the LDS church is to blame nor is the church the only religion whoever didn’t accept gays, blacks, women – whatever. Did you know that Latter-day Saint men and women were leaders of the women’s suffrage movement, and Utah was the second place in the world where women had the right to vote? </strong>
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<br /></strong><em>Brigham Young spewed so much raciest hate over the pulpit that I'm surprised how easily modern day Mormons are able to block it all out. </em>
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<br /></em><strong>It was a different time. A different setting. And people were completely different. Like I mentioned in a previous post, no prophet’s are perfect. They are human. And what God inspires them to do and say can even be masked by societal issues. Society is to blame for racism. Not one person. And certainly not one person from the LDS church. Even in today’s society there are church leaders (not the Prophet) who spew crap about blacks and their roles and history in the pre-existence and here on Earth. Just because one person starts teaching “doctrine” or what they believe, doesn’t mean the entire LDS church follows suit. And in my mind, these people should be reprimanded for teaching such things. </strong>
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<br /></strong><em>And seriously, does no one notice when the LDS Church quietly goes about changing things like, "white and delightsome" in the BOM to "PURE and delightsome"?</em>
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<br /><strong>Do we not use both word often in conjunction in the English language anyway? Perhaps it was racist people who forced the change because they assumed “white” literally meant white people, not a whiteness of heart or pureness of heart. They mean the same thing in this case. People take it the wrong way, which is why we need a prophet so misunderstandings can be cleared up. Everyone sees things differently, and in this case many people assumed “white and delightsome” had something to do with race.</strong>
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<br /><em>And men and women equal? Are you kidding me? Heber C. Kimball is quoted as having said, "I think no more of taking another wife than I do of buying a cow." Joseph Smith's "wives" included girls as young as 14, and women who, when he met them, were currently married to others (Hey, uh, God told me that apparently I'M supposed to be married to your wife). And while I suppose newly converted Mormon woman are no longer told they are expected to become the 14th wife of some lecherous old man twice their age (AFTER the journey to Utah, mind you) they still certainly are not treated as men's equals. They are expected to be wives and mothers, end of story-- no real leadership potential, and no real value outside of those two relationships. </em>
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<br /></em><strong>Your idea of a woman is skewed, not ours. Like I mentioned before… different time and different place. The Mormon people were a few of the first to accept women as equals. It wasn’t the Mormon church as a whole who decided women weren’t equal – it was society. It’s individual people who have are sexist, racist, and are bigots – not the Mormon church. In today’s society the idea of men and women being equal is becoming so much more skewed. Women assume that being LIKE men is being EQUAL to men, which is not the case. Women and men are different. Each with different roles, different responsibilities, different needs. Just because it is a woman’s divine privilege to have and rear children and it is a man’s right to work and provide for his family doesn’t make either party better or worse. It also doesn’t mean that men and women have to fulfill these roles or abide by the traditional gender "rules". It just means that God made us different for a reason, and gender is a vital part of who we are. </strong>
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<br /></strong><em>The Mormon Chruch changes it's tune when it becomes politically or financially expedient to do so. It's members pull their blinders tighter and excuse everything said before as ok because, well, I'm sure there's some kind of reason, right? What's that famous Mormon catch all-- we don't understand everything now, but I'm sure God has a plan. (Huh, I wonder if that gives the rest of us hope for your current raging homophobia at some point. That would certainly be nice.</em>)
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<br /><strong>It’s not the church who changes their tune when it’s politically or financially expedient to do so. We fully believe that God has living prophets today to convey his messages to his people. In the Bible there were many prophets who did this for God’s people. God chooses someone to relay his messages. I can’t speak for God, but I personally believe that He shows us what he wants to show us in due time. That may sounds nuts to non-Christians, but it makes perfect sense to me. Would you give your 5 year old child a talk about sex? No. They aren’t ready and are too young to understand. We are God’s children and we don’t know all that we think we do. Yes, right now we fully believe that homosexuality is a sin. The Bible says so and God says so through the Prophet. Maybe in 10, 20, 100 years they will all look back at us and say “Ha! I can’t believe those people actually thought being gay was BAD!” Much like we do now about inequality with blacks and women. The Bible talks about polygamy, and now we think it’s nuts. It can all get damn confusing. Who says everything must be the same century in and century out? Change is inevitable, here and in the afterlife.
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-24682729739865403842008-09-17T15:26:00.001-06:002008-09-17T15:28:06.665-06:00SEX!That was just to get your attention. Now follow me! Scroll down to where it says "Followers" and click "Follow."Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-50871532113157431842008-09-11T12:38:00.003-06:002008-09-11T16:21:59.493-06:00Diet Coke and Ho Ho'sYou know it. I know it. We all know that Diet Coke is a direct blessing from God. Well, it feels like it. Maybe in the same way crack feels to druggies. Or coffee feels to my mother. When the carbonation tickles my nose and the ice cold sweetness slips down my throat, I feel a little closer to Heaven. Personally, I also feel a little closer to Heaven when I sink my teeth into a choclatey devilish cake or a McDonald's cheeseburger, which is another one of my cravings. So what constitutes an addiction? By my sheer description of love for these foods and drinks, you might conclude that I have a problem. So what's the deal?<br /><br />The Word of Wisdom warns us against consuming "hot drinks," which as we all know are considered coffee and tea. This doesn't mean that a nice frappucino or iced tea is off the hook. Joseph Smith stated:<br /><br /><em>I understand that some of the people are excusing themselves in using tea and coffee, because the Lord only said "hot drinks" in the revelation of the Word of Wisdom .... Tea and coffee ... are what the Lord meant when He said "hot drinks."</em><br /><br />Okay, so we all know that coffee and tea are a no-no. Why? Well, we aren't sure. Is it because of the caffeine content? Perhaps. But then why are we allowed to consume other beverages with caffeine? Why didn't Heavenly Father inspire Joseph to say "nix the caffeine." Why "hot drinks?" Here's what the church said about it:<br /><br /><em>With reference to cola drinks, the Church has never officially taken a position on this matter, but the leaders of the Church have advised, and we do now specifically advise, against the use of any drink containing harmful habit-forming drugs under circumstances that would result in acquiring the habit. Any beverage that contains ingredients harmful to the body should be avoided.</em><a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Wisdom#cite_note-36"><em>[37]</em></a><br /><br />I never understood the whole "don't drink coffee or tea, but go ahead and drown your sorrows in carbonated aspartamey splendor." Granted, I bet there's something in coffee and tea that we don't know about. Some radical cancer-causing agent that no one knows about, and unknowingly everyone downs like it's going out of style. Maybe one day the coffee beans and tea leaves in South America will develop some sort of lethal poison that we're unaware of, and *POOF* one sip of coffee or tea will kill everyone but the Mormons. Or at least the Word of Wisdom abiding ones.<br /><br />So how do we KNOW for SURE that coffee and tea are the "hot drinks" we aren't supposed to partake of? The Prophet. Duh. What's the point of a modern day prophet if they don't tell us what the heck God is talking about? <br /><br />But the Prophet hasn't ever flat out told us not to drink Coke. Or Diet Coke for that matter. He's never flat out said, "Don't eat at McDonald's because you're going to turn into a solid mass of cholesterol." He's never said, "Stop eating high fructose corn syrup and partially hygrogenated soybean oil" which are both found in nearly every processed food we eat. He's never told us to stop eating Ding Dong's, french fries, ice cream, cake, etc... Now, our prophets have always ADVISED against putting those crappy things in our bodies. But no one was ever Joseph Smith-esque, who just flat out put a stop to the whole "smoking, alcohol, coffee, tea" thing. No prophet has ever said, "STOP. Just STOP." <br /><br />Some people might be saying, "Well, what about the people who aren't addicted to bad food and soda? The people who just like a little taste every now and then. Why ruin it for them?" I'm sure the people who liked to drink the occasional glass of wine thought that too. <br /><br />Where's the firm resolve? Is God giving us a little leighweigh, or is the Prophet human? He knows that putting a ban on McDonald's and Diet Coke like coffee and tea won't go over well with the general public within the church. Maybe this is like the Civil Rights movement. All along the Prophet knew that men and women should be treated equally. The Prophet is a man, born and raised in society and bearing the influnces of man. Blacks holding the Priesthood didn't happen until the nation came to a consensus on equality. It was only then that the church officially finally were able to accept blacks as equals. <br /><br />So we know what's bad for us. Yet we continue to consume it. Deep down we all know that comsuming processed foods, fast food, soda pop, etc... isn't the right thing to do. How do we afford fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains when an entire BOX of Ho Ho's are only $1? How do you feed a family of 37 healthy food if it's cheaper and faster to get fast food at McDonald's? <br /><br />Well I don't know. I wish I did. All I know is that there's a reason for everything. (Yeah, one of those people.) We all just need to use common sense, avoid impuse buys, and think about what we're shoving into our mouths and the mouths of our children. Food and caffeine is addictive. And anything addictive is bad. (Note: Porn included.) <br /><br />Maybe a new revelation is on its way? It's been good for us so far!<br /><br /><em>A 14-year selective study conducted by </em><a class="mw-redirect" title="UCLA" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCLA"><em>UCLA</em></a><em> </em><a class="mw-redirect" title="Epidemiologist" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiologist"><em>epidemiologist</em></a><em> James E. Enstrom tracked the health of 10,000 moderately active LDS people in </em><a title="California" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California"><em>California</em></a><em> and ended in 1987. Of these non-</em><a title="Tobacco smoking" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_smoking"><em>smoking</em></a><em>, </em><a title="Monogamy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monogamy"><em>monogamous</em></a><em> non-</em><a title="Alcoholic beverage" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage"><em>drinkers</em></a><em>, Enstrom concluded from the study "that LDS Church members who follow religious mandates barring smoking and drinking have one of the lowest death rates from cancer and cardiovascular diseases—about half that of the general population. ... Moreover, the healthiest LDS Church members enjoy a life expectancy eight to eleven years longer than that of the general white population in the United States." The standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for whites in the general population is defined as 100. For males in the study, the SMRs "are 47 for all cancers, 52 for cardiovascular diseases, and 47 for all causes; the SMRs for females are 72 for all cancers, 64 for cardiovascular diseases, and 66 for all causes." For LDS </em><a title="High priest (Latter Day Saints)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_priest_(Latter_Day_Saints)"><em>high priests</em></a><em> who never smoked cigarettes, exercised, and had proper sleep, the mortality rate was less. The results were largely duplicated in a separate study of an LDS-like subgroup of white non-smoking churchgoers in </em><a title="Alameda, California" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alameda,_California"><em>Alameda, California</em></a><em>.</em><a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Wisdom#cite_note-enstrom-37"><em>[38]</em></a>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-64169455332278884702008-09-04T10:15:00.003-06:002008-09-04T10:21:22.154-06:00Follow Me!When you are in your "dashboard" there is a place below all your blogs where you can add blogs you are following. Add me and I'll add you!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-2194419626327545892008-09-02T11:35:00.003-06:002008-09-04T10:21:00.389-06:00Doing the Right ThingToday I went to the DMV to register my new car. Yes, I bought it despite my previous post on Spending Money. If you had read that post, you'd agree that my purchase was justified. All that aside, I got a killer deal on a 2006 Chevy Malibu. It's nice - not as big as an Impala, not as small as a Cobalt - and will be great for when we have a family. It's charcoal gray, and very sexy. If a car can be a 4 door sedan and still be sexy, this is it. *drool*<br /><br />Anyway, I went to the DMV and got it all registered. 65 bucks and change. I got $100 out of the ATM and gave the woman 60 bucks, thinking it was $80. She gave me change for $70. I quickly corrected her saying the ATM only gives 20's, so it MUST have been 80 and she gave me the extra money. As I walked to the car, I realized I had an extra $20 in my hand. Without a second thought I turned around and went back in to correct my mistake, and gave the 20 back.<br /><br />It wasn't until I was out in my car again that I realized I would NOT have done that around 5 years ago. I would have dimissed it as good fortune and gone shopping. What made me turn around so fast? Impulse? Habit? The theory that good fortune is returned three fold for doing something honest and good? I don't know. Does this mean I will get $60 in return? Does blogging about my good deed take it away?<br /><br />Well, I don't know about all that. I guess since I was baptized 4 years ago, lots of things have changed. Would we still do the right things if we didn't assume we would get blessings for doing so? Does expecting something in return completely erase the good deed in itself?<br /><br />What about tithing? We all have a testimony of tithing the the good things it brings to our lives. Would we have that same testimony if nothing happened and you just gave your money to a good cause? Is the good feeling you get a good enough reward?<br /><br />I don't know, maybe you all have an opinion?Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-40546369149119792212008-08-27T08:58:00.003-06:002008-09-04T10:20:32.863-06:00Spending MoneyI'll be blunt. We got an HDTV. (Insert glowing halo and choir music here.) It's so sexy that we actually had to modify our entertainment center to get it to fit. Normal people wall mount it, but we were blatantly terrified for fear that it would fall and crash into a million pieces before we could watch anything. So we took a sledge hammer to all the little convenient shelves in our wooden entertainment center, which left a gaping space to put in a TV. With just about an inch left on each side, we got it in. Now we are consumed with watching Blu-Ray movies and playing Xbox.<br /><br />My car is a trooper – but if I have the air conditioning on it putters out like it’s out of gas. Especially in 100 degree weather. More than once I’ve been on my way to see a client, and all of a sudden I am stranded on the side of the freeway pushing my car to safety. So I am going to buy a car. Right now I own my car – but I was thinking of getting something a little nicer and just make payments on it. Maybe a cute Beetle. My 6’4” husband can fit into those things like a dream. In any case, it’s gonna cost me.<br /><br />I’m flying to Seattle this weekend to see my best friend from college. Needless to say, lots of shopping will be involved. She just bought a brand new Cadillac. You know, the one from the commercial that says, “When you turn your car on does it return the favor?” Yeah.<br /><br />I haven’t actually MADE a meal in two weeks, excluding last night when I put pizzas in the oven. We’ve eaten every meal out.<br /><br />I’ve spoiled myself lately with nails, hair, waxes etc…<br /><br />Last night I kneeled at the side of the bed for prayer, and had an overwhelming need to request God’s help.<br /><br /><em>Please, please God let me win the lottery. And if that doesn’t happen, help me make more money at my job. And if that doesn’t happen remind me the next time I want to buy something that you will smite me with a bolt of lightning.</em><br /><br />In all seriousness, I’ve found that spending money wisely is kind of another addition to the Word of Wisdom. Don’t drink coffee, don’t smoke, and don’t buy an HDTV if your car is a piece of crap. The church has been good about dealing with financial matters and how we should avoid credit cards, and be frugal as much as possible. I think I have just forgotten how to do that.<br /><br />Spending money is easy. Be it on a TV, baby clothes, kids’ toys, husband’s toys, wife’s beauty regimens, even food and the necessities. Some people buy brand name things when the generic brand would work just fine. Some people pay only $400 a month for rent, and purchase a $4000 living room set. Some people live in squalor, and eat ramen noodles every day, and never go out and have fun.<br /><br />I say there’s a happy medium. Granted, we should be careful of what we buy, and never use a credit card unless we can pay the balance off in full each month. But we should also realize that LIFE is what happens when you are saving up for it. (My own quote there, feel free to attribute it to me….) We need to budget for FUN. We need to budget for what makes us HAPPY. For example, going to a movie in the “expensive” theatre (vs. the $2 theatre) once or twice a month gives me an unnatural amount of joy. So I am going to do it. On the other hand, I could have definitely gone without getting my hair done. I could have gone without these stupid nails that make it so I can’t type. My husband could have used his old rifle instead of buying a new one.<br /><br />We could really go on about this all day. I guess the point is to be SMART about what we buy. Honestly, thinking about Heavenly Father when I feel weak makes me much more likely to spend wisely.<br /><br />What have you bought lately that you probably shouldn’t have? What are some tips you have for spending money wisely?Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-19985905536153019402008-08-21T08:43:00.001-06:002008-09-04T10:20:10.193-06:00Stuff Mormons LikeI just found this site. <a href="http://www.stuffmormonslike.com/">http://www.stuffmormonslike.com/</a><br /><br />It's hilarious.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-20981311816921066642008-08-14T16:37:00.003-06:002008-09-04T10:19:32.860-06:00Comment Response to Mo'Dar<p>Occasionally, I take a comment and make it public. Usually this occurs when the comment was particularly heinous or controversial and is easy to make fun of. Here's the newest one!<br /><br /><em>How does a shopper at Old Navy...etc....make one more likely to be mormon? </em></p><p>Old Navy offers a plethora of clothing for the young and old - much of which is suitable to cover garments. Not to mention the fact that Old Navy's are rampant in Idaho and Utah. Most people who shop at Old Navy aren't Mormon - it's all the Mormons that shop at Old Navy. Same with other stores. Just because you shop there doesn't make you a Mo'. It just so happens that Mo's frequent these store for a whole laundry list of reasons that I won't go into.</p><p><em>I shop at nearly all those places and am far from Mormon.</em></p><p>Again...not saying that shopping there makes you one. Saying that lots of Mo's shop there.</p><p><br /><em>Pretty sure that all of my family enjoys those hoppies listed...how do any of those point to Mormonism...</em></p><p>I too enjoy hoppies. </p><p><br /><em>Please enlighten me on the following: How is a male who is a white collar worker more likely to be mormon than a blue collar working male???</em> </p><p>From personal experience, many of the Mormons I know have a white collar occupation. I don’t know why! Maybe it's where I live. </p><p><br /><em>Isn't that a little egocentric???</em></p><p>Yes.</p><p><br /><em>My dear, I think that you have truely become one with them; which I'm sure was your goal. However, it is really sad that you are mature enough to make your own decisions yet have been so easily brainwashed. My prayers are with you.</em> </p><p>Am I the one who is brainwashed? Are you're prayers REALLY with me? It is easy to point out the eccentricities of others. I simply do it about myself and my religion. We are a funny group of people and it can be easy to identify us. Besides, what's so bad about having children, having a loving Christian home, covering up, treating your body right, and doing the right things? If that's brainwashing then bring it on!<br /></p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-38375305173420953492008-08-13T13:44:00.005-06:002008-09-04T10:19:49.372-06:00Mo'Dar<p>Mormons are funny creatures. Now that I am a full-fledged temple recommend-holding Mormon - I've developed pretty good Mo'Dar. This is "radar" only the kind that is exceptionally good at seeking the following criteria.<br /><br />The Celestial Smile or "MoGee Lines." This refers to the outlines made by garments visible under the clothes. The celestial smile is the line formed by the neckline. "MoGee" is slang for "Mormon Garment."<br /><br />CTR Ring. More obvious is the Choose The Right ring, worn widely mostly by RM's (Return Missionaries) and young adults.<br /><br />The Haircut: The missionary haircut is seen throughout the majority of a young male RM's life. Haircut Mo'Dar for females is not accurate. However, you can usually be accurate in assuming a female with an RM haircut is NOT a Mormon.<br /><br />Geography. There's a 75% chance that someone who lives in Utah is Mormon. About a 27% chance that someone from Idaho is Mormon. Of course this varies by city or town. Where I live, I would say there's a good 50% chance that some random stranger you meet is Mormon. In Idaho Falls - just 45 minutes away - that percentage jumps to probably 80%. There's some pretty sweet statistics at <a href="http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_lds.html">this site </a>if you're interested.<br /><br />Clothing. If your Mo'Dar is unable to decipher MoGee lines, or if the subject begins to feel uncomfortable as you examine them - pay attention to their clothing. Do the women wear capped sleeve shirts and long skirts or pants? Do the men wear button up or polo shirts? Young adults of the Mormon persuasion tend to dress modestly by comparison. This is more difficult to decipher as subjects increase in age.<br /><br />Shopping habits. The likelihood of a subject being Mormon increases greatly if they are found shopping or working at any of these stores - Old Navy, Motherhood, OfficeMax, Costco, Sam's Club, Abercrombie and Fitch, Aeropostale, JoAnn's Fabrics, and of course any store with the actual name of the church or "Deseret" in it.<br /><br />Occupation. The likelihood that one is Mormon increases if they have any of these occupations. For men: student, doctor, physicians assistant, computer hardware/software tech., dentist, or manager. For women: Teacher, Stay-At-Home-Mom, any type of service work, nurse, or dental hygienist.<br /><br />House décor. If you've stopped by the new neighbor’s house for a visit, be sure your Mo'Dar pays attention to the house decor. If there aren’t readily any photos of Jesus on the wall, check for wall plaques with sayings like “Families are Forever,” Ensign magazines strewn about, or a framed family proclamation.<br /><br />Office décor. First, note the subjects age. The younger the professional, the more likely they are Mormon. Then take note of photographs of family. 3 or more children will throw your Mo’Dar into overdrive. If neither of these things are noted, check for Mormon paraphernalia such as LDS mouse pads or plaques with inspirational quotes often used at the MTC.<br /><br />Number of children vs. age of parents. The likelihood of one being Mormon is inversely proportionate to age, and directly proportionate to number of children. The higher the number of children and the lower the age of the parents increases the chances of Mormonism. For example, a 22 year old with three children is MORE likely to be Mormon than a 32 year old with four children. However, a 32 year old with 8 children is just as likely to be Mormon as a 22 year old with 4 children.<br /><br />Age of Children. If the subject’s children are 2 or less years apart in age, the chances of them being Mormon are greater.<br /><br />Last but not least, Hobbies. If you find a subject participating in any of these hobbies, they are more likely to be Mormon. For men: Video games, hunting, fishing, golf, blogging, and watching TV. For women: Scrapbooking, blogging, sewing, cooking (especially anything with Jell-O), or blogging.<br /><br /><br /></p>Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-42669462868218131992008-08-12T08:14:00.004-06:002008-09-04T10:18:24.637-06:00My Temple WeddingThis past Friday (08/08/08) was not only the first day of the 2008 Olympic Games, but it was also the day my husband and I got sealed in the temple!<br /><br />Two years ago on May 20 we were married civilly. It was a beautiful wedding atop a penthouse in downtown Boise. At that point we weren't really worried about getting sealed. We weren't preventing it from happening by our actions either - we just didn't feel ready. In school we tended to be nomadic, so we rarely attended church.<br /><br />This year we settled down a bit, were able to go to church, and began to think about "Time and All Eternity." Picking a date is never difficult for us. May 20th is the date right between our birthdays - so 08/08/08 seemed like a cool date too. Not to mention that the infinity symbol<span style="font-size:180%;"> <span style="font-size:130%;">(∞)</span> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">has always been important to us as we used it to express our love when we were first dating. We used to say that our love could be represented by the ordered pair </span><span style="font-size:130%;">(-∞,∞) </span><span style="font-size:100%;">negative infinity to positive infinity. (Don't laugh.) How appropriate for a temple wedding - time and all eternity. (If you didn't notice, the infinity symbol is an 8 on its side....just making sure you caught that....)</span><br /><br />Anyway, we were sealed around 8am. I think my husband's parents (and his whole family for that matter) were a little miffed that it was so early. They assumed I scheduled it for 8am because of our date, but really it was the only time they had available that day. (Which I was very surprised by.) My father-in-law told us he arrived a little late so we could be sealed at 8:08. Ha.<br /><br />The ceremony was short, as I had expected. But we were sealed by my husband's grandfather, so it was extra special. As he was speaking the words, I payed close attention. Then, both my husband and my husband's grandpa began to cry. And of course so did my husband's parents. I tried to cry, but couldn't. I was way to happy to even shed one tear. I'm not really a "happy crier," so all I could do was smile.<br /><br />Our reception was to be that night at 7pm in my mom's backyard. My mom, who is not a member, spent months planning a "casual reception." We later found out that planning a full on wedding reception may have been the same amount of work. We got an above ground pool, tiki torches, a gazebo, and barbecued burgers on the grill. My mom spent hours making greek pasta salad, mini quesadillas, meatballs, cheesy sticks for the kids, and raspberry punch with orange sorbet. The food was so good it was impossible to keep it on the table. Not to mention that my mom made her very first wedding cake. Two white three-layer teirs filled with orange cream and topped with snow white frosting. It looked so professional! As a gift, she topped it with a Willow Tree figurine called "Promise."<br /><br />My husband's family didn't seem so eager to help on Thursday, and really made a few of us angry. Needless to say, there was a lot of drama on Thursday night. But by Friday night after we got sealed, it was like a weight had been lifted. No one was angry, everyone helped, everyone was in a great mood. The kids were running around, swimming and eating, and the adults from both families sat around and talked like civilized people. No one wanted to leave, and by nightfall the candles and tiki torches were the only things lighting the backyard.<br /><br />I really didn't want that day to end. I am so happy that I can be part of a great family. Even though they have dysfunctions - it's awesome knowing we can all come together and have fun.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3278682648701575556.post-84387103789626726912008-08-04T08:48:00.003-06:002008-09-04T10:17:35.208-06:00My EndowmentSo this weekend was a big deal. I finally went to the temple to get my endowment. Not sure if that needs to be capitalized, but we all know it's important. Overall, it was spiritual, enlightening, understandable, and actually "fun." Not many people can use this word to describe their temple experience as we can see from the poll on the left.<br /><br />My husband, of course, waited until the morning of my endowment to get his recommend signed by the stake president. After a panicky morning, we headed out with my husband's aunt (who was my escort) and his uncle. They are both around 60 years old, but both exceedingly good looking and filthy rich. Maybe not filthy - but we did arrive at the temple in their black Escalade, which was awesome. (Hey I'm poor, little things amuse me.) My aunt forgot her recommend of course - she's trendy, cute, feminine, and flighty. Affectionalty called the "Fancy Nana." But with a phone call, we were able to get in.<br /><br />The number one thing I am glad I did before I went in was to prepare. I know you're not supposed to know what happens in the temple before you go - and I never really found out exactly before I went in. But I did have a better clue than a few of the other brides-to-be going in. I was briefed on each part of the endowment from a few different sources, and I also Googled it myself, being wary not to read anything from ex-Mormons that might reveal sacred stuff. All in all it went just as I expected, just in a little different format.<br /><br />I feel so bad for a few of the other brides who went in with me. They looked lost, scared, and giggled a little at themselves. I was the only bride-to-be that looked like I had some semblance of a clue as to what everything meant. It's no wonder people think it's weird! I will say this though, I now know EXACTLY why all the things we do in the temple are sacred. And secret. I mean, anyone could find out all the information if they really wanted to online, so it's not really secret. But it wouldn't make any sense whatsoever to them. Everything we do in the temple has meaning. For a moment, I stepped back and looked at what I was doing from an outsiders perspective, and yeah, it's a little non-traditional. When you are actually in there, and you know why, and you know what it means - your perspective is so much more understading.<br /><br />People who go into the temple unprepared are in for a "treat." Like I said, I can't imagine the times before temple prep classes, or the times when you couldn't really talk about it with your husband or anyone else, and you just had to get up and go. It's really vital that we prepare our young daughters and sons for what they will see, and be as specific as allowed. We assume that we can't discuss what goes on in the temple, but the truth is, we can! Just not a few specific things. So I say - talk about! Well, not at work in front of the Catholic guy, or in the movie theatre - but seriously - talk about it with the people who haven't gone through yet at home or in private together.<br /><br />For those of you who haven't gone through yet, don't worry. There's no animal/virgin sacrifices. Thankfully, I was able to really listen to what everyone was saying. The whole thing lasts a pretty long time. We got there around 1:30 and left around 7pm. So it's hard to remember everything. But keep an open mind. Nothing is really surprising - it's just cool to be reminded and learn a few new things. A word of advice - get endowed on a different day than you get sealed. I don't know why people do it all in one day. I would be too busy thinking about my reception/dress/ceremony etc... than listening and learning. Plus it's a lot to remember.<br /><br />Afterwards we headed back to our aunt and uncle's "mansion" where we openly discussed things. It was great not to have to dance around anything, and just be able to talk about it. I sipped strawberry lemonade from their crystal glasses and shifted with my silky garments. I actually really like my garments! They are the most comfortable things I've ever worn under my clothes. No tight straps, poking underwire, wedgies or anything! We concluded the night watching my uncle's video of the press conference for Stephenie Meyer (author of the Twilight series.) Since Stephenie is our cousin, he went down to San Diego for the Twilight movie event - and is all proud and excited. Yeah I'm jealous!<br /><br />Anyway, this Friday my hubby and I are going to the Boise temple to get sealed! Wish us luck!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02365945910330819587noreply@blogger.com3