tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6929858863173520660.post628134501635642253..comments2022-11-04T06:01:42.217-07:00Comments on Jenny Morrow, A Continuing Journey...Leaving the Mormon Faith: Feeling BetrayedJenny Morrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04659392919073857694noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6929858863173520660.post-72201399604674939172013-01-14T17:45:08.106-08:002013-01-14T17:45:08.106-08:00Hi L.J.,
Thanks for your thoughts! You are right...Hi L.J.,<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughts! You are right, different people, even in the church experience these things differently. I've gone ahead and made some changes to hopefully represent "my" experience more than a stereotype. It means a lot that you'd take time to share your thoughts. Jenny Morrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04659392919073857694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6929858863173520660.post-88513535708359175712013-01-14T11:13:15.052-08:002013-01-14T11:13:15.052-08:00Jenny, although I respect every personal reason yo...Jenny, although I respect every personal reason you have to step back from the church, and for following your own path, I must say that I feel the below statement is stereotyping church members and beliefs, and I feel that what you are saying is more of a cultural issue, but that you write about it as if every member of the Mormon church deals with this.<br /><br />"The interesting thing about having been a member of the church is that while I was educated to think critically, I simply didn't apply that learning to the areas of the church. And no wonder, I was taught not to! I mean, think about it...if someone in the press told us something like one of the quotes above, we'd be angry. As humans we want the information, and want to be allowed to make the meaning from it that we will...from our own experiences. To be manipulated into believing something a certain way (by someone purposely leaving out information) feels inauthentic and hurtful."<br /><br />I actually would not be angry if someone from the press told me something like the quote above, and I know many members who would not be angry. I also was taught to think critically, including the areas of the church, and have never shied away from that, nor denied any history. In fact, I openly taught accurate history as a missionary--including Joseph Smith's wives, and the first vision, and I critically researched it further. I also love Richard Bushman's work--who is someone that is a perfect example of another member who does not shy away from critical thinking, nor would be upset if the press shared the quote mention above.<br />...And there are many members like this--full of faith, but also full of wisdom and critical thinking. <br /><br />There are thousands of members who read Richard Bushman's accurate historical accounts, and all of his work is sold at Deseret Book, a church-owned book store. The Joseph Smith papers, being published, are full of accurate history, as are the church history volumes, which are kept in any ward library. Sunday school is meant to inspire and uplift for the coming week, but history is there for us to fully digest if we desire.<br /><br />Again, this is not to convince you otherwise, only to share that I feel your experience being raised in the church is unique, and not every Mormons experience, and not what every church member is taught. My personal experience has been very different.<br /><br />I personally see the church a complete healing vessel, one that has always taught me I can be, and do, whatever I desire. Free agency is a beautiful thing. If I feel like going to church because it will enrich my week, I can go. If I don't desire to, I don't have to. If I feel like paying my tithing, great! If not, I go to God and tell him, and he chuckles with me and with a smile says: "Ok Lauren, whatever you must do or desire." I see repentance as "letting go". To move forward, to not cling to your guilt, but to move on. How wonderful is that! I can let it go ... and not carry any burdens with me. I can love myself perfectly, and I do see myself as absolutely perfect--as does God.<br /><br />I also was raised in an orthodox Mormon home, and consider myself an orthodox Mormon. (I say this as well, because I remember in one conversation you suggested I was perhaps was not raised in an orthodox Mormon home, and I disagree. We went to church every week, had temple recommends, taught friends the gospel, kept the word of wisdom, had family home evening and scripture study, paid tithing, went to seminary, 4 of my siblings served missions, and I fell asleep listening to Janice Kapp Perry!<br />So from one orthodox Mormons experience to another, we have felt differences within our same faith, and that’s something to acknowledge. No two Mormons see God in the samw way, and who's to say the way I view him is correct, or yours is correct. Religion, despite being the same religion, is still incredibly individual. My relationship with God is personal, and very healing.L.J.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08263027636205366416noreply@blogger.com